Despite the increasing deployment of photovoltaic systems, there remains a lack of experimental studies evaluating both energy and economic performance of rooftop fixed and tracking PV systems in hot arid climates, particularly in North African regions. Moreover, most existing research emphasizes utility-scale or simulationonly analyses, with limited real-world validation for rooftop applications where cost-effectiveness is crucial. This study addresses this gap by presenting a comparative evaluation of fixed and dual-axis tracking PV systems installed in an arid area, using a combination of PV simulation tools and one year of experimental data. Results show that the dual-axis tracking system consistently outperformed the fixed system in monthly energy yield, with 10-15% higher annual output, especially during winter and low solar elevation periods. However, the fixed system showed a slightly higher performance ratio during the summer months. Economic analysis reveals that although the dual-axis system entails higher upfront and maintenance costs, it provides better long-term returns through increased energy production and improved return on investment. This integrated simulation and experimental approach confirms the dual-axis tracking system as a more economically and energetically viable solution for deployment in ground-mounted photovoltaic installations operating in hot arid climates.