There have been several stories regarding the origins of the 'Arabs' term. The most popular view is that the name was coined during the severe winter of the 1962-63 season. The weather was so bad, with heavy snow that refused to thaw, that between December and March, Dundee United were able to play only three times. One of these was a Scottish Cup tie against Albion Rovers, for which the management, in a desperate attempt to get Tannadice playable, hired an industrial tar burner to melt the several inches of snow and ice from the pitch.

Not only did it do this, but it also removed the grass too. Several lorry loads of builders' sand were ordered and spread across the barren surface, and the regulation pitch markings painted on top. United adapted well to this novel playing surface and won the game 3-0, prompting observers to comment that they had taken to the sand like Arabs. Other sources point to earlier usage, with a "1950s sandtrap" used as one such reference.

The fans, however, used the term to describe themselves. The term was then later resurrected during the early 1990s through the pages of the popular Dundee United football fanzine, The Final Hurdle, with supporters soon declaring that they were 'Proud To Be An Arab'. Deacon Blue singer and long-time Dundee United supporter Ricky Ross even wrote a song declaring this fact. By then, even the official club souvenir shops were selling replica keffiyehs in tangerine and black. The term was now firmly connected with Dundee United.