Jordanian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Jordan is a kingdom in the Middle East, home to the ancient rose-red city of Petra, the desert of Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. Arabic is the main language, and English is widely spoken. Jordanians in Birmingham include doctors, engineers, academics and students.

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 Jordan; and 19,996 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Arab.

Working for Birmingham

Jordan has a strong tradition of education, and Jordanian doctors, engineers and researchers work in Birmingham's hospitals and universities. Jordanian students study medicine, engineering, business and law, and many graduates go on to senior roles at home and across the region.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Jordanian residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

Mansaf, lamb cooked in fermented yoghurt and served over rice, is Jordan's national dish and the centrepiece of celebrations. Eid, Jordan's Independence Day on 25 May and family weddings are joyful occasions, and Jordanian coffee, served with cardamom, is a symbol of welcome.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Jordanian 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.