Arbab Muhammad Arif obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Peshawar in 1983. He joined the Pakistan Administrative Service in 1985 and retired in Basic Pay Scale-22 from the position of Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan. After his retirement in 2019, he was appointed as member of the Federal Public Service Commission for three years. His illustrious career in the field included his postings as Deputy Commissioner Nawabshah in Sindh and Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In addition to his service as Political Agent in Kurram, Mohmand, South Waziristan as Political Agent, he holds the distinction of having served the strategic Khyber Agency as Political Agent. At regional level, he served as Commissioner Hazara and Peshawar Divisions. At Secretariat level, he served as Special Secretary Finance, Secretary, Home and Tribal Affairs and Additional Chief Secretary for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. His staff assignments included his posting as Secretary to the Governor, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Additional Secretary in the President Secretariat. In 2016, he was selected for posting as Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan. In this role, he looked after the general administration of the office and staff of the Supreme Court. As Registrar, he also worked as Secretary, Supreme Judicial Council and the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. He was an outstanding officer and always left behind a legacy of dignity, efficiency, resoluteness, dedication and, above all, memorable relationship based on mutual respect. He always worked with executive appearance and judicious approach. 

Currently, Arbab Muhammad Arif is practicing law at Peshawar and enrolled as Advocate High Court.