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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 YNoZrLy7RQlpGUj8y9Fq7A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-08-027626.txt : 20081211
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-08-027626.hdr.sgml : 20081211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081211171311
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-08-027626
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Carter Nicholas
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001364279

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33926
		FILM NUMBER:		081244179

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		409-755-7814

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7760 ROSEWOOD
		CITY:			LUMBERTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77657

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007039
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PETROLEUM REFINING [2911]
		IRS NUMBER:				751256622
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10830 N CENTRAL EXPRWY STE 175
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75231
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2146927872

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10830 N CENTRAL EXPYWY STE 175
		STREET 2:		10830 N CENTRAL EXPYWY STE 175
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75231

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ARABIAN SHIELD DEVELOPMENT CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007039</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARSD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001364279</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carter Nicholas</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7760 ROSEWOOD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LUMBERTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77657</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2008-12-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35650</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>207918</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nicholas Carter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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