As part of the 1896–1897 construction programme for the Royal Navy, the British Admiralty placed orders for thirty torpedo boat destroyers.

[4] Four coal-fed Normand boilers, with four funnels, fed two triple expansion steam engines rated at 8,600 indicated horsepower (6,400 kW) which drove two propeller shafts.

She was delivered to the Royal Navy on 20 October 1902, with the Admiralty imposing a £3000 penalty owing to the ships failure to meet contract speed, the final price paid being £63,642.

[16] On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyers were to be grouped into classes designated by letters based on contract speed and appearance.

[21] In November 1914 Arab was transferred to Scapa Flow as one of a force of 29 destroyers used for local patrols of this vital naval base.

[25][26] Arab remained based at Scapa until January 1918,[27] but then transferred to the Firth of Forth as part of the Methil Convoy Flotilla.