diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/feature-registry.ts b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/feature-registry.ts
index cf60bad70a..83d6056a38 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/feature-registry.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/feature-registry.ts
@@ -31,4 +31,13 @@ export const RENDERING_FEATURES = {
     handles: ['w:shd/@w:fill', 'w:shd/@w:val', 'w:shd/@w:color'],
     spec: '§17.3.1.31',
   },
+
+  // ─── RTL Paragraph ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+  // @spec ECMA-376 §17.3.1.1 (bidi), §17.3.2.30 (rtl)
+  'w:bidi': {
+    feature: 'rtl-paragraph',
+    module: './rtl-paragraph',
+    handles: ['w:pPr/w:bidi', 'w:rPr/w:rtl'],
+    spec: '§17.3.1.1',
+  },
 } as const;
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/rtl-paragraph/index.ts b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/rtl-paragraph/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc1c99a80d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/rtl-paragraph/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+/**
+ * RTL Paragraph — rendering feature module
+ *
+ * Centralises all right-to-left paragraph logic used by DomPainter:
+ * - Detecting whether a paragraph is RTL
+ * - Applying dir="rtl" and the correct text-align to an element
+ * - Resolving text-align for RTL vs LTR (justify → right/left)
+ * - Deciding whether segment-based (absolute) positioning is safe
+ *
+ * @ooxml w:pPr/w:bidi — paragraph bidirectional flag
+ * @ooxml w:rPr/w:rtl  — run-level right-to-left flag
+ * @spec  ECMA-376 §17.3.1.1 (bidi), §17.3.2.30 (rtl)
+ */
+
+export { isRtlParagraph, resolveTextAlign, applyRtlStyles, shouldUseSegmentPositioning } from './rtl-styles.js';
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/rtl-paragraph/rtl-styles.ts b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/rtl-paragraph/rtl-styles.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3d08dfe0c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/features/rtl-paragraph/rtl-styles.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+/**
+ * RTL paragraph style helpers for DomPainter.
+ *
+ * All RTL-aware rendering decisions live here so the main renderer
+ * doesn't need to re-derive direction in multiple places.
+ *
+ * @ooxml w:pPr/w:bidi — paragraph bidirectional flag
+ * @spec  ECMA-376 §17.3.1.1 (bidi)
+ */
+import type { ParagraphAttrs } from '@superdoc/contracts';
+
+/**
+ * Returns true when the paragraph attributes indicate right-to-left direction.
+ * Checks both the `direction` string and the legacy `rtl` boolean flag.
+ */
+export const isRtlParagraph = (attrs: ParagraphAttrs | undefined): boolean =>
+  attrs?.direction === 'rtl' || attrs?.rtl === true;
+
+/**
+ * Compute the effective CSS text-align for a paragraph.
+ *
+ * DomPainter handles justify via per-line word-spacing, so 'justify'
+ * becomes 'left' (LTR) or 'right' (RTL) to align the last line correctly.
+ * When no explicit alignment is set the default follows the paragraph direction.
+ */
+export const resolveTextAlign = (alignment: ParagraphAttrs['alignment'], isRtl: boolean): string => {
+  switch (alignment) {
+    case 'center':
+    case 'right':
+    case 'left':
+      return alignment;
+    case 'justify':
+      return isRtl ? 'right' : 'left';
+    default:
+      return isRtl ? 'right' : 'left';
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Apply `dir` and `text-align` to an element based on paragraph attributes.
+ * Used by both `renderLine` (line elements) and `applyParagraphBlockStyles`
+ * (fragment wrappers) so the logic stays in one place.
+ */
+export const applyRtlStyles = (element: HTMLElement, attrs: ParagraphAttrs | undefined): boolean => {
+  const rtl = isRtlParagraph(attrs);
+  if (rtl) {
+    element.dir = 'rtl';
+  }
+  element.style.textAlign = resolveTextAlign(attrs?.alignment, rtl);
+  return rtl;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Whether the renderer should use absolute-positioned segment layout for a line.
+ *
+ * Returns false for RTL paragraphs: the layout engine computes tab X positions
+ * in LTR order, so for RTL we fall through to inline-flow rendering where the
+ * browser's native bidi algorithm handles tab positioning via dir="rtl".
+ */
+export const shouldUseSegmentPositioning = (
+  hasExplicitPositioning: boolean,
+  hasSegments: boolean,
+  isRtl: boolean,
+): boolean => hasExplicitPositioning && hasSegments && !isRtl;
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/index.test.ts b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/index.test.ts
index 660f8e0d9c..ef85fff236 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/index.test.ts
@@ -5551,6 +5551,100 @@ describe('DomPainter', () => {
       });
     });
   });
+
+  describe('RTL paragraph rendering', () => {
+    const rtlBlock = (attrs: Record<string, unknown>): FlowBlock => ({
+      kind: 'paragraph',
+      id: 'rtl-block',
+      runs: [{ text: 'مرحبا', fontFamily: 'Arial', fontSize: 16 }],
+      attrs: { direction: 'rtl' as const, rtl: true, ...attrs },
+    });
+
+    const rtlMeasure: Measure = {
+      kind: 'paragraph',
+      lines: [
+        { fromRun: 0, fromChar: 0, toRun: 0, toChar: 5, width: 80, ascent: 12, descent: 4, lineHeight: 20 },
+      ],
+      totalHeight: 20,
+    };
+
+    const rtlLayout: Layout = {
+      pageSize: { w: 300, h: 200 },
+      pages: [
+        {
+          number: 1,
+          fragments: [
+            { kind: 'para', blockId: 'rtl-block', fromLine: 0, toLine: 1, x: 0, y: 0, width: 200 },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    it('sets dir="rtl" and defaults text-align to right', () => {
+      const painter = createDomPainter({ blocks: [rtlBlock({})], measures: [rtlMeasure] });
+      painter.paint(rtlLayout, mount);
+
+      const line = mount.querySelector('.superdoc-line') as HTMLElement;
+      expect(line.dir).toBe('rtl');
+      expect(line.style.textAlign).toBe('right');
+    });
+
+    it('preserves explicit left alignment on RTL paragraphs', () => {
+      const painter = createDomPainter({ blocks: [rtlBlock({ alignment: 'left' })], measures: [rtlMeasure] });
+      painter.paint(rtlLayout, mount);
+
+      const line = mount.querySelector('.superdoc-line') as HTMLElement;
+      expect(line.dir).toBe('rtl');
+      expect(line.style.textAlign).toBe('left');
+    });
+
+    it('uses text-align right for RTL justified paragraphs', () => {
+      const painter = createDomPainter({ blocks: [rtlBlock({ alignment: 'justify' })], measures: [rtlMeasure] });
+      painter.paint(rtlLayout, mount);
+
+      const line = mount.querySelector('.superdoc-line') as HTMLElement;
+      expect(line.dir).toBe('rtl');
+      expect(line.style.textAlign).toBe('right');
+    });
+
+    it('does not use absolute positioning for RTL lines with tab segments', () => {
+      const tabBlock: FlowBlock = {
+        kind: 'paragraph',
+        id: 'rtl-block',
+        runs: [
+          { text: 'مرحبا', fontFamily: 'Arial', fontSize: 16 },
+          { kind: 'tab', width: 40, fontFamily: 'Arial', fontSize: 16 } as any,
+          { text: 'عالم', fontFamily: 'Arial', fontSize: 16 },
+        ],
+        attrs: { direction: 'rtl' as const, rtl: true },
+      };
+
+      const tabMeasure: Measure = {
+        kind: 'paragraph',
+        lines: [
+          {
+            fromRun: 0, fromChar: 0, toRun: 2, toChar: 4,
+            width: 160, ascent: 12, descent: 4, lineHeight: 20,
+            segments: [
+              { runIndex: 0, fromChar: 0, toChar: 5, width: 60 },
+              { runIndex: 1, fromChar: 0, toChar: 0, width: 40, x: 60 },
+              { runIndex: 2, fromChar: 0, toChar: 4, width: 60, x: 100 },
+            ],
+          },
+        ],
+        totalHeight: 20,
+      };
+
+      const painter = createDomPainter({ blocks: [tabBlock], measures: [tabMeasure] });
+      painter.paint(rtlLayout, mount);
+
+      const line = mount.querySelector('.superdoc-line') as HTMLElement;
+      expect(line.dir).toBe('rtl');
+      const spans = Array.from(line.querySelectorAll('span'));
+      const hasAbsolute = spans.some((s) => s.style.position === 'absolute');
+      expect(hasAbsolute).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
 });
 
 describe('ImageFragment (block-level images)', () => {
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/renderer.ts b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/renderer.ts
index 2fa0241935..efafdc609b 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/renderer.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/renderer.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ import {
   stampBetweenBorderDataset,
   type BetweenBorderInfo,
 } from './features/paragraph-borders/index.js';
+import {
+  isRtlParagraph,
+  applyRtlStyles,
+  shouldUseSegmentPositioning,
+} from './features/rtl-paragraph/index.js';
 
 /**
  * Minimal type for WordParagraphLayoutOutput marker data used in rendering.
@@ -5180,16 +5185,8 @@ export class DomPainter {
     if (styleId) {
       el.setAttribute('styleid', styleId);
     }
-    const alignment = (block.attrs as ParagraphAttrs | undefined)?.alignment;
-
-    // Apply text-align for center/right immediately.
-    // For justify, we keep 'left' and apply spacing via word-spacing.
-    if (alignment === 'center' || alignment === 'right') {
-      el.style.textAlign = alignment;
-    } else {
-      // Default to 'left' for 'left', 'justify', 'both', and undefined
-      el.style.textAlign = 'left';
-    }
+    const pAttrs = block.attrs as ParagraphAttrs | undefined;
+    const isRtl = applyRtlStyles(el, pAttrs);
 
     if (lineRange.pmStart != null) {
       el.dataset.pmStart = String(lineRange.pmStart);
@@ -5443,10 +5440,11 @@ export class DomPainter {
       el.style.wordSpacing = `${spacingPerSpace}px`;
     }
 
-    if (hasExplicitPositioning && line.segments) {
-      // Use segment-based rendering with absolute positioning for tab-aligned text
-      // When rendering segments, we need to track cumulative X position
-      // for segments that don't have explicit X coordinates.
+    if (shouldUseSegmentPositioning(hasExplicitPositioning ?? false, Boolean(line.segments), isRtl)) {
+      // Use segment-based rendering with absolute positioning for tab-aligned text.
+      // shouldUseSegmentPositioning returns false for RTL because the layout engine
+      // computes tab positions in LTR order; RTL lines fall through to inline-flow
+      // rendering where dir="rtl" lets the browser handle tab positioning.
       //
       // The segment x positions from layout are relative to the content area (left margin = 0).
       // We need to add the paragraph indent to ALL positions (both explicit and calculated).
@@ -5468,8 +5466,10 @@ export class DomPainter {
       const listIndentOffset = isFirstLineOfPara ? (rawTextStartPx ?? indentLeft) : indentLeft;
       const indentOffset = isListParagraph ? listIndentOffset : indentLeft + firstLineOffsetForCumX;
       let cumulativeX = 0; // Start at 0, we'll add indentOffset when positioning
+
+      const segments = line.segments!;
       const segmentsByRun = new Map<number, LineSegment[]>();
-      line.segments.forEach((segment) => {
+      segments.forEach((segment) => {
         const list = segmentsByRun.get(segment.runIndex);
         if (list) {
           list.push(segment);
@@ -5555,7 +5555,6 @@ export class DomPainter {
             geoSdtWrapper.style.top = '0px';
             geoSdtWrapper.style.height = `${line.lineHeight}px`;
           }
-          // Adjust element left to be relative to wrapper
           elem.style.left = `${elemLeftPx - geoSdtWrapperLeft}px`;
           geoSdtMaxRight = Math.max(geoSdtMaxRight, elemLeftPx + elemWidthPx);
           this.expandSdtWrapperPmRange(geoSdtWrapper, (runForSdt as TextRun).pmStart, (runForSdt as TextRun).pmEnd);
@@ -6985,10 +6984,7 @@ const applyParagraphBlockStyles = (element: HTMLElement, attrs?: ParagraphAttrs)
   if (attrs.styleId) {
     element.setAttribute('styleid', attrs.styleId);
   }
-  if (attrs.alignment) {
-    // Avoid native CSS justify: DomPainter applies justify via per-line word-spacing.
-    element.style.textAlign = attrs.alignment === 'justify' ? 'left' : attrs.alignment;
-  }
+  applyRtlStyles(element, attrs);
   if ((attrs as Record<string, unknown>).dropCap) {
     element.classList.add('sd-editor-dropcap');
   }
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.ts b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.ts
index c62d0459c9..95a81bd466 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.ts
@@ -243,13 +243,15 @@ export const computeParagraphAttrs = (
     );
   }
 
+  const isRtl = resolvedParagraphProperties.rightToLeft === true;
+
   const normalizedSpacing = normalizeParagraphSpacing(
     resolvedParagraphProperties.spacing,
     Boolean(resolvedParagraphProperties.numberingProperties),
   );
   const normalizedIndent = normalizeIndentTwipsToPx(resolvedParagraphProperties.indent as ParagraphIndent);
   const normalizedTabStops = normalizeOoxmlTabs(resolvedParagraphProperties.tabStops);
-  const normalizedAlignment = normalizeAlignment(resolvedParagraphProperties.justification);
+  const normalizedAlignment = normalizeAlignment(resolvedParagraphProperties.justification, isRtl);
   const normalizedBorders = normalizeParagraphBorders(resolvedParagraphProperties.borders);
   const normalizedShading = normalizeParagraphShading(resolvedParagraphProperties.shading);
   const paragraphDecimalSeparator = DEFAULT_DECIMAL_SEPARATOR;
@@ -284,6 +286,7 @@ export const computeParagraphAttrs = (
     keepLines: resolvedParagraphProperties.keepLines,
     floatAlignment: floatAlignment,
     pageBreakBefore: resolvedParagraphProperties.pageBreakBefore,
+    ...(isRtl ? { direction: 'rtl' as const, rtl: true } : {}),
   };
 
   if (normalizedNumberingProperties && normalizedListRendering) {
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/spacing-indent.test.ts b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/spacing-indent.test.ts
index 629e405e11..0ad57727a7 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/spacing-indent.test.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/spacing-indent.test.ts
@@ -102,9 +102,29 @@ describe('normalizeAlignment', () => {
     expect(normalizeAlignment('justify')).toBe('justify');
   });
 
-  it('maps start/end to left/right', () => {
+  it('maps start/end to left/right in LTR', () => {
     expect(normalizeAlignment('start')).toBe('left');
     expect(normalizeAlignment('end')).toBe('right');
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('start', false)).toBe('left');
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('end', false)).toBe('right');
+  });
+
+  it('maps start/end to right/left in RTL', () => {
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('start', true)).toBe('right');
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('end', true)).toBe('left');
+  });
+
+  it('does not flip explicit left/right/center/justify in RTL', () => {
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('left', true)).toBe('left');
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('right', true)).toBe('right');
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('center', true)).toBe('center');
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('justify', true)).toBe('justify');
+  });
+
+  it('maps Arabic kashida justify variants to justify', () => {
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('lowKashida')).toBe('justify');
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('mediumKashida')).toBe('justify');
+    expect(normalizeAlignment('highKashida')).toBe('justify');
   });
 
   it('returns undefined for invalid values', () => {
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/spacing-indent.ts b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/spacing-indent.ts
index 7e4f98c9a2..426e10ad03 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/spacing-indent.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/spacing-indent.ts
@@ -28,25 +28,19 @@ const AUTO_SPACING_LINE_DEFAULT = 240; // Default OOXML auto line spacing in twi
  * Normalizes paragraph alignment values from OOXML format.
  *
  * Maps OOXML alignment values to standard alignment format. Case-sensitive.
- * Converts 'start'/'end' to 'left'/'right'. Unknown values return undefined.
+ * Converts 'start'/'end' to physical directions based on paragraph direction:
+ * - LTR: start→left, end→right
+ * - RTL: start→right, end→left
  *
  * IMPORTANT: 'left' must return 'left' (not undefined) so that explicit left alignment
  * from paragraph properties can override style-based center/right alignment.
  *
  * @param value - OOXML alignment value ('center', 'right', 'justify', 'start', 'end', 'left')
+ * @param isRtl - Whether the paragraph is right-to-left
  * @returns Normalized alignment value, or undefined if invalid
- *
- * @example
- * ```typescript
- * normalizeAlignment('center'); // 'center'
- * normalizeAlignment('left'); // 'left'
- * normalizeAlignment('start'); // 'left'
- * normalizeAlignment('end'); // 'right'
- * normalizeAlignment('CENTER'); // undefined (case-sensitive)
- * ```
  */
 
-export const normalizeAlignment = (value: unknown): ParagraphAttrs['alignment'] => {
+export const normalizeAlignment = (value: unknown, isRtl = false): ParagraphAttrs['alignment'] => {
   switch (value) {
     case 'center':
     case 'right':
@@ -57,11 +51,14 @@ export const normalizeAlignment = (value: unknown): ParagraphAttrs['alignment']
     case 'distribute':
     case 'numTab':
     case 'thaiDistribute':
+    case 'lowKashida':
+    case 'mediumKashida':
+    case 'highKashida':
       return 'justify';
     case 'end':
-      return 'right';
+      return isRtl ? 'left' : 'right';
     case 'start':
-      return 'left';
+      return isRtl ? 'right' : 'left';
     default:
       return undefined;
   }
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/index.test.ts b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/index.test.ts
index ff9f5a3dba..079edd4eb1 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/index.test.ts
@@ -3025,8 +3025,8 @@ describe('toFlowBlocks', () => {
       expect(blocks).toHaveLength(1);
       const paragraph = blocks[0];
       expect(paragraph.kind).toBe('paragraph');
-      expect(paragraph.attrs?.direction).toBeUndefined();
-      expect(paragraph.attrs?.rtl).toBeUndefined();
+      expect(paragraph.attrs?.direction).toBe('rtl');
+      expect(paragraph.attrs?.rtl).toBe(true);
       expect(paragraph.attrs?.indent?.left).toBe(24);
       expect(paragraph.attrs?.indent?.right).toBe(12);
     });
@@ -3936,7 +3936,7 @@ describe('toFlowBlocks', () => {
   });
 
   describe('bidi alignment fallback', () => {
-    it('defaults RTL paragraphs to right alignment when no explicit alignment', () => {
+    it('defaults RTL paragraphs to no explicit alignment (renderer defaults to right)', () => {
       const pmDoc = {
         type: 'doc',
         content: [
@@ -3960,9 +3960,9 @@ describe('toFlowBlocks', () => {
       const { blocks } = toFlowBlocks(pmDoc);
 
       expect(blocks).toHaveLength(1);
-      expect(blocks[0].attrs).toMatchObject({
-        alignment: undefined,
-      });
+      expect(blocks[0].attrs?.direction).toBe('rtl');
+      expect(blocks[0].attrs?.rtl).toBe(true);
+      expect(blocks[0].attrs?.alignment).toBeUndefined();
     });
 
     it('respects explicit alignment on RTL paragraphs', () => {
@@ -3990,12 +3990,14 @@ describe('toFlowBlocks', () => {
       const { blocks } = toFlowBlocks(pmDoc);
 
       expect(blocks).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect(blocks[0].attrs?.direction).toBe('rtl');
+      expect(blocks[0].attrs?.rtl).toBe(true);
       expect(blocks[0].attrs).toMatchObject({
         alignment: 'center',
       });
     });
 
-    it('adjustRightInd overrides alignment to right', () => {
+    it('preserves explicit left alignment on RTL paragraphs', () => {
       const pmDoc = {
         type: 'doc',
         content: [
@@ -4021,10 +4023,52 @@ describe('toFlowBlocks', () => {
       const { blocks } = toFlowBlocks(pmDoc);
 
       expect(blocks).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect(blocks[0].attrs?.direction).toBe('rtl');
+      expect(blocks[0].attrs?.rtl).toBe(true);
       expect(blocks[0].attrs).toMatchObject({
         alignment: 'left',
       });
     });
+
+    it('maps start to right and end to left for RTL paragraphs', () => {
+      const pmDocStart = {
+        type: 'doc',
+        content: [
+          {
+            type: 'paragraph',
+            attrs: {
+              paragraphProperties: {
+                rightToLeft: true,
+                justification: 'start',
+              },
+            },
+            content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'مرحبا' }],
+          },
+        ],
+      };
+
+      const pmDocEnd = {
+        type: 'doc',
+        content: [
+          {
+            type: 'paragraph',
+            attrs: {
+              paragraphProperties: {
+                rightToLeft: true,
+                justification: 'end',
+              },
+            },
+            content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'مرحبا' }],
+          },
+        ],
+      };
+
+      const { blocks: blocksStart } = toFlowBlocks(pmDocStart);
+      const { blocks: blocksEnd } = toFlowBlocks(pmDocEnd);
+
+      expect(blocksStart[0].attrs?.alignment).toBe('right');
+      expect(blocksEnd[0].attrs?.alignment).toBe('left');
+    });
   });
 
   describe('documentSection SDT metadata propagation', () => {