In 839 or 840, Raffadali was occupied by the Arabs, who introduced new crops, such as apricots, pears, pistachio, citrus fruits, and carob, as well as new farming techniques and a system of canals to irrigate the fields. One etymology for the town's name derives it from the Arabic "Rahl-Afdal" (رحال افدال), meaning "excellent village". Two centuries later, the Norman Conquest put an end to Arab rule. Raffadali became part of the territory of the Diocese of Agrigento, which contained 54 communes, required to pay an annual tithe to the church. In this period, Raffadali was incorporated into a territorial and administrative form typical of feudalism. On 7 October 1095, King Roger I granted the territory of Raffadali to Giorlando Montaperto, son of Giovanni Matteo and Ulla Cassaneto, as a reward for having captured the nearby castle at Monte Guastanella from an Arabic garrison led by one Ali. He thus become lord of the castle and of the "raffa", that is, the surrounding territory. A popular etymology for the name of the Raffadali attributes it to the combination of "Raffa" and Ali. The town is first recorded in the registers of the diocese of Agrigento in 1117, where it is listed as "Cattà" (the name "Raafala" is also found in the records). In the 14th century, the village had its own parish church dedicated to St. Leonard, which is now in ruins.