Middle Eastern Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

People from the Middle East in Birmingham have roots in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, the Gulf states, Israel, Palestine, Turkey and beyond. Some families have lived in the city since the 1950s, while others have come more recently as students, professionals and people seeking safety.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 17,718 people living in the city had been born in the Middle East; and 12,758 residents gave Arabic as their main language. 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

Middle Eastern doctors, pharmacists, dentists, engineers and academics are well represented in Birmingham, and Middle Eastern bakeries, grills, sweet shops, barbers and grocers have brought new life to many high streets. Students from across the region study at the city's universities.

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, Middle Eastern residents are helping to build that future, and to make Birmingham a stronger, fairer and more welcoming city.

Culture and community life

Nowruz, Eid, Easter and Christmas are all celebrated by the region's many communities. Middle Eastern food, from mezze and kebabs to rice dishes and sweet pastries, is one of the most popular cuisines in Birmingham, and the region's poetry, music and hospitality are treasured.

The story of the Middle Eastern community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.