  Optical character recognition (OCR) is a vital process that involves the
extraction of handwritten or printed text from scanned or printed images,
converting it into a format that can be understood and processed by machines.
This enables further data processing activities such as searching and editing.
The automatic extraction of text through OCR plays a crucial role in digitizing
documents, enhancing productivity, improving accessibility, and preserving
historical records. This paper seeks to offer an exhaustive review of
contemporary applications, methodologies, and challenges associated with Arabic
Optical Character Recognition (OCR). A thorough analysis is conducted on
prevailing techniques utilized throughout the OCR process, with a dedicated
effort to discern the most efficacious approaches that demonstrate enhanced
outcomes. To ensure a thorough evaluation, a meticulous keyword-search
methodology is adopted, encompassing a comprehensive analysis of articles
relevant to Arabic OCR, including both backward and forward citation reviews.
In addition to presenting cutting-edge techniques and methods, this paper
critically identifies research gaps within the realm of Arabic OCR. By
highlighting these gaps, we shed light on potential areas for future
exploration and development, thereby guiding researchers toward promising
avenues in the field of Arabic OCR. The outcomes of this study provide valuable
insights for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders involved in Arabic
OCR, ultimately fostering advancements in the field and facilitating the
creation of more accurate and efficient OCR systems for the Arabic language.
