Omani Community in Birmingham

It brings the gentle hospitality of one of Arabia's oldest nations to the city.

Where they come from

Oman lies on the south-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula, with a long coastline on the Arabian Sea. It has a history of seafaring that once reached East Africa and India, and it is famous for its frankincense. Many Omanis study in Britain, and Birmingham's universities have welcomed Omani students for years.

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

Working for Birmingham

Omani students in Birmingham study engineering, medicine, business, education and computing, and return home to careers in government, healthcare, energy and teaching. Their studies support Oman's plans to build a modern, diverse economy, and their friendships strengthen the long ties between Oman and Britain.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Omani community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Ramadan, Eid and Oman's National Day in November are marked with family gatherings. Omani halwa, served with coffee flavoured with cardamom, is a symbol of welcome, and shuwa, lamb slow-cooked in an underground oven, is prepared for special occasions. Frankincense is still burned to welcome guests.

The story of the Omani 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.