Caird & Company built Arabia at Greenock on the River Clyde, launching her in November 1897 and completing her in March 1898. She had capacity for 317 first class and 152 second class passengers, a total of 469.[1]
Arabias route was between Tilbury, Essex and Bombay. On her maiden voyage she took Lord Kedleston to take up his post as Viceroy of India. In 1902 she took passengers to India for the 1903 Delhi Durbar.[1]
On 15 March 1905 the cargo steamship was manœuvreing in Bombay Harbour when she struck Arabia amidships on her port side, damaging the liner's promenade deck, boat deck and upper works. The collision was caused by Riverdales chief engineer inexplicably setting her engine to go ahead when ordered to go astern.[2]
On 12 October 1912 the steamship Powerful collided with Arabia in the English Channel off Southampton. Powerfuls bow holed the crew toilet above the waterline, crushing lascar crewman Hassan Moosa to death.[1]
In 1915 and 1916 Arabia made three voyages between Britain and Australia. On 6 November 1916 she was en route from Sydney via Fremantle, Western Australia to England when the German submarine torpedoed her without warning 180km (110miles) south by west of Cape Matapan, Greece, killing 11 of her engine room crew. Arabia launched her boats within 15 minutes. Four armed trawlers and Ellerman Lines' passenger liner rescued survivors.[1]
187 Australians were aboard Arabia.[3] Her sinking helped surge volunteer enlistment in the Australian armed forces.