Introduction: Occupational therapy is a profession that helps individuals, despite their limitations, live fulfilling and as independent lives as possible. Although occupational therapy has gained recognition worldwide in recent years, the understanding of its role, methods, and significance varies depending on the geographical region, the level of development in different parts of the world, and the cultural characteristics of individual countries. In most Arab countries, occupational therapy is a relatively new profession. These countries differ in political, economic, and social aspects but are united by shared values, cultural identity, and heritage. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to explore what is currently known about occupational therapy in the Arab world. Methods: A scoping literature review was conducted in this thesis. The literature search was performed in October and November 2024 using the following databases: CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, and Web of Science. The search utilized English keywords: occupational therapy and Arab world. The final analysis included fully accessible articles in English that received a relevance score of 4 or 5. Results: Three main themes were identified: the influence of Arab culture on occupational therapy, the challenges and limitations of occupational therapy in Arab countries, and the recognition of occupational therapy in Arab states. Discussion and conclusion: Arab region represents a meeting point of Western concepts and local values, requiring occupational therapists to adapt their therapeutic approaches to the local cultural and social context. Challenges in practice include the focus on the medical model, the inadequacy of assessment tools for the cultural region, language barriers, and religious and cultural norms that must be respected. Given the relatively recent emergence of the profession in Arab countries, its recognition among the general population and other healthcare professionals is also limited. It is often confused with physiotherapy and associated with job searching or massage. Occupational therapy in the Arab world serves as a bridge between different cultures, values, and approaches, giving it a unique significance and opportunities for further growth.
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