Purpose: Due to the high expense of obtaining and accessing scientific research, readers with diverse financial abilities are not offered equal opportunities. This study investigates the preferences for journal access types among Arab university academics and explores the implications of publishing research articles in open access vs closed access journals in low- and lower-middle income countries. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey and an in-person focus group consisting of 74 scholars from Arab institutions throughout the Arab World were conducted. Findings: Findings show that most professors at Arab universities favour open access publication without author fees. The results also show that this method of publishing research will help these nations advance by giving all citizens equal access to information and providing researchers with a good opportunity to be read and cited, which contributes to the overall progress of science. Originality/value: This topic has not been investigated yet, and it is of great importance to university professors and stakeholders in higher education institutions in the Arab world.