Issam Al-Aridi studied in Aley for the baccalaureate degree, the first section (the literary branch), where he graduated with distinction from the National University, winning the Professor Maroun Abboud Prize for Arabic Literature in 1957, and in the following year, 1958, he completed his baccalaureate studies. In the second section – Philosophy, at International College, he won the Mikhail Naimy Prize for Arabic Literature.

In 1965, Issam Al-Aridi graduated from the Faculty of Law at the Lebanese University and joined the Beirut Bar Association, where he spent more than forty years, most of the cases he received serving the people. He retired in 2006.

He studied Arabic literature and language at International College (American University High School) and served as head of the Arabic department there.

In 1986, he published his first poetry collection, “Snow”. In the same year, he also published his literary book “On the Carpet of Poetry”, which he taught for several years at International College and other schools in Lebanon.

In 1996, he published his second poetry collection: “On the Rock of Flats”.

In 1991, he joined the Lebanese Writers Union, where he was elected four consecutive times as a member of the administrative body, including twice as assistant secretary-general of the union.

In 1999, Issam Al-Aridi was appointed a member of the Economic and Social Council, representing the Lebanese Writers Union. He represented Lebanon on several literary and poetic occasions, including the Arab Poetry Festival in 1997.