Dropdown list read arabic caraters from mysql DB

i have the below error when trying to read arabic charaters from DB to be displayed in the dropdown menu but if i read english charaters it works fine please help. the error message is

SCREAM: Error suppression ignored for
( ! ) Warning: mysql_fetch_array() expects parameter 1 to be resource, boolean given in C:\wamp\www\Autoservice website & system\inventory\pqty.php on line 132

my code is

<select name="owner">
<?php
mysql_connect("localhost","snhlawy","thena7labee") or die("Couldn't connect.");
mysql_select_db("data") or die ("Couldn't select db.");
$sql = mysql_query("SELECT desc FROM inventory");
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql)){

?>
<option value="owner1"><?php echo $row['desc']; ?></option>

<?php
// close while loop
}
?>