Mohamed Arbi Zarrouk was also the foster brother of the princess Amina Baya, sister of Hammuda Pasha and future wife of Mahmoud Bey.

After 1800, he accompanied Minister Youssef Saheb Ettabaa on the tours (mhalla) of pacification and tax collection in the tribal areas, as his advisor and treasurer.

[2] After this coup was carried out, Mohamed was frustrated at not taking Youssef Saheb Ettabaâ's place, and he temporarily assumed the position of Minister of Finance (khaznadar).

Khaznadar then tracked down the allies of the former minister: some were imprisoned, all were dispossessed of their property, including the father of the chronicler Ibn Abi Dhiaf, former secretary of Saheb Ettabaâ.

He actively participated in the olive oil and wheat trade and built one of the largest palaces in the medina of Tunis, in the rue des Juges district.