Kuwaiti Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Kuwait is a small country at the northern tip of the Arabian Gulf, bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Its wealth comes from oil, and it has a long tradition of seafaring and trade. Kuwait has close historic ties with Britain, and many Kuwaitis study at British universities with government support.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 9,495 people living in the city had been born in Middle Eastern countries other than Iran and Iraq, a group that includes Kuwait; and 19,996 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Arab.

Working for Birmingham

Kuwaiti students in Birmingham study medicine, engineering, business, law and computing, and many return home to careers in healthcare, government and the energy sector. Their time in the city builds friendships and professional links that benefit both Kuwait and Birmingham.

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe, and its progress has always depended on people who chose to make it home. Its hospitals, schools and universities, its building sites, workshops, warehouses and kitchens all rely on skills brought from around the world. The Kuwaiti community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Kuwait's National Day on 25 February and Liberation Day on 26 February are celebrated with pride, and Ramadan and Eid bring families together. Machboos is the national dish, and the diwaniya, a gathering where men meet to talk and share coffee, is a proud social tradition.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Kuwaiti community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.