A systematic literature review of ChatGPT adoption in Arab higher education

Abstract The use of ChatGPT is rapidly increasing in higher education due to its applicability in several disciplines. Although ChatGPT offers several benefits to students and faculty, it is still in an early phase that requires research to support its integration into higher education institutions. This study systematically reviews the trends, benefits, and challenges of ChatGPT in Arab higher education. This study reviewed 40 articles indexed in Web of Science and Scopus between 2023 and 2025. ChatGPT trends include studies conducted in several Arab countries, article citations, research methodologies, and data analysis techniques employed by the researchers. The review of the articles identified personalized learning, skill development, learning experiences, and writing and translation as the main benefits of ChatGPT in Arab higher education. Finally, the study identified pedagogical adaptation, ethical concerns, limited geographical studies, and limited use of theoretical frameworks as the challenges of ChatGPT in HEIs. The current study’s systematic literature review will provide guidelines for educators, faculty, and researchers to understand the application of ChatGPT in higher education and maximize its potential benefits.