Arabic Gum (AG) modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) was developed for the first time and used for sensitive detection of 4-aminophenol (PAP) in real samples. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were respectively used for the elemental and morphological characterization of unmodified and modified CPEs. Electrochemical studies of PAP using the AG immobilized on a CPE were performed with cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The AG-CPE showed an enhanced electrochemical response, with sensitivity 1.6-fold greater than the signal obtained at the unmodified CPE in SWV. With AG-CPE, the linear dynamic range of PAP was found within the concentration range of 2.7–100 µM with a detection limit of 0.38 µM (S/B = 3), and a sensitivity of 1.2 µA L mol− 1. Using the proposed method, PAP was successfully detected in tap and dam water samples with standard addition method, suggesting that this method can be applied to determine this pollutant in wastewaters.