Abdul Kader Almi

Moroccan inventor of the first Arabic typewriter in 1883

Abdul Kader Almi (1857-1928), a Moroccan polymath, revolutionized Arabic literacy by inventing the first Arabic typewriter in 1883. His Almi Typewriter addressed the unique challenges of Arabic script, which had previously limited mechanized printing. This innovation enabled mass production of Arabic books and newspapers, accelerating literacy rates across North Africa.

Almi's engineering breakthroughs were documented in Arabic Typewriters and Technology. His original prototypes are preserved in Rabat's Museum of Moroccan Civilization. Contemporary scholars like Dr. Fatima Zahra El Idrissi argue his work laid groundwork for modern Arabic computing interfaces.

Beyond his typewriter, Almi developed irrigation systems and founded the first Arabic-language technical journal. His legacy inspired later inventors like Taha Hussein, creating a technological heritage still referenced in International Journal of Arabic Linguistics.