This study examines how peel color relates to fruit quality and metabolic diversity in 20 fig cultivars grown in arid northern Xinjiang, China. Morphological traits, physicochemical indicators, and untargeted metabolomics (UHPLC-MS/MS) were integrated using multivariate statistical analyses (PCA and OPLS-DA) to assess chromatic-group differences. Purple cultivars had the highest antioxidant capacity (DPPH: 863.6 mu g TE/g; FRAP: 19.0 mu mol Fe2+/g), which showed a significant positive correlation with flavonoid accumulation (r > 0.63, p < 0.01), whereas green types contained more umami-associated amino acids (Glu: 13.60 mu mol/g; Asp: 29.34 mu mol/g). Yellow figs possessed high soluble solids-to-acidity ratios (64.3-89.4) but lower antioxidant levels. Metabolomic profiling annotated 1741 metabolites, identifying 257 color-specific biomarkers (VIP > 1, p < 0.05), including Phe-Pro. Peel color was found to be strongly associated with distinct phytochemical profiles, highlighting coordinated pigment and secondary metabolism regulation. These results support breeding strategies for nutrient-enriched figs adapted to arid environments. Future research should verify postharvest stability and key biosynthetic pathways for functional applications.