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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OD5Vj4fpnE955Hj75cCaNAPytBr+aut/7gv+A88zWiqdtTNwSIQUIh+Ns2hdGfeD
 MRHIRycRV5zz3+WJSyUg0Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000877890-09-000169.txt : 20091103
<SEC-HEADER>0000877890-09-000169.hdr.sgml : 20091103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091103175322
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000877890-09-000169
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091030
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Monserrat Alvaro
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001440281

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27084
		FILM NUMBER:		091155610

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		851 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITRIX SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000877890
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				752275152
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		851 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9542673000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		851 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD
		CITY:			FL LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000877890</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITRIX SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTXS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001440281</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Monserrat Alvaro</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CITRIX SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>851 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT LAUDERDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33309</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Sales and Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.963</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24315</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted by the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares sold on this date were sold in multiple transactions. This price is the weighted average sales price per share of all shares sold on this date. The actual sale prices per share range from $37.760 to $38.155. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Citrix Systems, Inc. or any security holders of Citrix Systems, Inc., full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Antonio G. Gomes, Attorney-in-Fact for Alvaro Monserrat</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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