<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-10-07</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001615892</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AR CAPITAL ACQUISITION</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXAR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001650781</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AXAR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1330 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SIXTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001673869</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Axar GP, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1330 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SIXTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001673921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Axelrod Andrew</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1330 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SIXTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and Executive Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7297827</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Private Placement Warrants (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6550000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 3 is filed by Axar Capital Management, LP, Axar GP, LLC and Andrew Axelrod with respect to the reported securities held directly by Axar Master Fund, Ltd. Axar Capital Management, LP serves as investment manager to Axar Master Fund, Ltd. Axar GP, LLC is the sole general partner of Axar Capital Management, LP. Mr. Axelrod is the sole member of Axar GP, LLC and is the managing partner, portfolio manager and majority control person of Axar Capital Management, LP. Each of Axar Capital Management, LP, Axar GP, LLC and Mr. Axelrod disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interests therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of the Issuer's initial business combination.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The warrants will expire five years after the date on which they first became exercisable, at 5:00 p.m., New York time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>AXAR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP By: Axar GP LLC, its general partner, By: /s/ Andrew Axelrod, its Sole Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>AXAR GP LLC By: /s/ Andrew Axelrod, its Sole Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrew Axelrod</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
