The Arabic Language Education Study Program (PBA) of Universitas Islam Riau (UIR), began with the great hopes of the founders of the study program and the Islamic Education Institution Foundation (YLPI) which houses UIR. It all started with the sending of Dr. Saproni, M.Ed from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) and Najmi Hayati, M.Ed from the Faculty of Islamic Religion (FAI), by the Rector of UIR at the end of 2014, to attend the International Conference on Arabic, held at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim, Malang. After returning from the event mentioned above, a desire arose for the realization of the Arabic language study program at UIR. This was then communicated with YLPI Riau, and received great moral support so that the noble wishes above could be realized at UIR. The initial problem that arises is the question, PBA Study Program will be tried to be opened at FKIP or FAI. Because DR. Saproni, M.Ed who had a scientific background in the field of Arabic Language Education, as a permanent lecturer at FKIP at that time, the proposal for the opening of the PBA study program came from FKIP. So a PBA formulation team was formed chaired by Dr. Saproni, M.Ed and consisting of Harif Supriady, MA and friends, and decreed by the dean of FKIP at that time, and received intensive guidance and enormous support from Dr. Elvis, M.Pd, as Vice Dean I for academic affairs of FKIP. The proposal was submitted to Kemenristekdikti RI through Kopertis Wil. X Padang, twice in 2015 and 2016. However, the establishment proposal has not yet received permission from the Indonesian government, aka has not been successful.

Once the screen is developed, never receding backward, that’s about the proverb that describes the spirit of the formulating teammates. In business conditions for the third time in order to upload the proposal file for the establishment of PBA study program through FKIP, an offer came to DR. Saproni, M.Ed et al, from Dr. Zulkifli, MM, M.ESy, as the newly elected Dean of FAI at the end of 2016, to join FAI and propose the establishment of PBA through the Kopertais channel.

DR. Saproni, M.Ed et al, was invited to present the prospectus of PBA Study Program before the FAI Lecturer assembly in early 2017, and from the presentation delivered, it became the subject of discussion for the Lecturer panel session to decide whether PBA study programs were accepted to be submitted through FAI or not accepted. After a tug-of-war between FAI lecturers, both lecturers who were optimistic about the future of PBA and those who were pessimistic about the future of PBA Study Program, a decision was finally made that Dr. Saproni, M.Ed was accepted as an FAI lecturer and the submission of proposals for PBA Study Program submissions was facilitated by FAI to be submitted through the Kopertais route.

Finally, by the blessing of Allah’s Mercy and Virtue, SWT alone. So, on July 31, 2017 A.D., coinciding with the 7th of Dhul Qo’dah 1438 H, PBA Study Program obtained an operational permit from the Director General of Islamic Education of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia No: 4142/2017.

The curriculum for the first period that became a reference since the beginning of the establishment of the PBA UIR Study Program was the curriculum that refers to KKNI and the curriculum prepared by the Indonesian Arabic Language Teacher Association (IMLA).