The short tandem repeat (STR) systems D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX and FGA were studied in Arabian population samples from Morocco and Syria. No significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium could be observed in either preparation. Comparing the Moroccan and Syrian populations using the program R×C, no similarity could be observed at all 15 loci. In the Moroccan and Syrian populations the matching probability is 1 in 1.4×1017 and 1 in 2.6×1017, respectively. Thus, the combination of these 15 STR loci is powerful tool for forensic identification in Arabian populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]