Saqaliba refers to the Europeans, often Slavic slaves, kidnapped from the coasts of Europe or in wars, as well as mercenaries in the medieval Arab world, in the Middle East, North Africa, Sicily and Al-Andalus.

It is generally thought that the Arabic term is a Byzantine loanword: saqlab, siklab, saqlabi etc.

is a corruption of Greek Sklavinoi meaning Slavs (which is also related to the English word slave).

The word is often misused to refer only to slaves from Central and Eastern Europe,[ but in fact it refers to all Europeans and others kidnapped by the Arab traders during the war or peace periods.