Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the Arabic version of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale

•Clinical settings face challenges in evaluating and diagnosing children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).•The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-2) were evaluated.•Various diagnostic accuracy parameters for the CARS cutoff point were tested.•The factor structure of the CARS-2 was evaluated via EFA and CFA.•The results indicated a three-factor solution. The factor structure of the Arabic version of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2) was evaluated. The participants were 301 children, aged 2–12 years, who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) via the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Various diagnostic accuracy parameters for the CARS cutoff point were tested against the reference standard of the DSM-5. The Arabic version of the CARS-2 had high reliability, as measured by internal consistency (.79), inter-rater reliability (.65), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (.76). Construct validity was assessed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results indicated that a three-factor solution was appropriate, with the first (Communications) and third (Senses and Physical) factors reflecting DSM-5 symptom domains. The CFA proved that the final model, derived from the EFA, yielded a 14-item, three-factor model that adequately fit the data. These findings support the continued relevance of the CARS-2 in ASD assessment.