Arab Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

The Arab world stretches from Morocco on the Atlantic to Iraq and the Gulf. Birmingham's Arab community includes Yemeni families who have lived here since the 1950s, doctors and students from across the region, and families who came seeking safety from conflict in Iraq, Syria, Sudan and elsewhere.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 19,996 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Arab; 12,758 residents gave Arabic as their main language; and 17,580 residents of Arab heritage gave their religion as Muslim. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Arab doctors, pharmacists, dentists, engineers and academics are well represented in Birmingham, and Arab-run bakeries, restaurants, barbers, grocers and businesses have transformed several of the city's high streets. Arab students study at its universities, and interpreters and community workers support new arrivals.

The city's future rests on the same things as its past: skills, enterprise and people willing to put in the hours. Whether in a hospital, a classroom, a lecture theatre, a van full of tools or a shop on a busy high street, Arab residents are helping to build that future, and to make Birmingham a stronger, fairer and more welcoming city.

Culture and community life

Ramadan and Eid are the highlights of the year for Muslim families, and Arab Christians celebrate Easter and Christmas. Arab food, from shawarma and falafel to mezze, mandi and sweet pastries, is loved across the city, and Arabic poetry, music and the famous tradition of hospitality are proudly shared.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Arab community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.