It is found in Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Four subspecies are recognised; C. l. negevensis, from the Arava Valley in Israel and Jordan; C. l. leucomelaena, from northwestern Saudi Arabia southward to Yemen and then eastward to Oman; C. l. blanfordi, from southeastern Egypt to southeastern Eritrea; and C. l. somaliensis, from Djibouti and northern Somalia.

It has an upright posture, relatively short, rounded wings and a long, graduated tail which it characteristically flicks downwards.

The male has a white eye-ring, a blackish-brown hood and tail, greyish-brown upper parts, a whitish throat and pale grey underparts.

The alarm call is a series of quiet "chack"s.[3] The Arabian warbler forages for insects and small arthropods, and also feeds on berries.