Palestinian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Palestinians trace their roots to the historic region of Palestine on the eastern Mediterranean, including the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. Many Palestinian families have lived in other countries, such as Jordan, Lebanon and the Gulf states, before coming to Britain. Palestinians in Birmingham include doctors, academics, students and families.

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. The census does not publish a separate Birmingham figure for people of Palestinian heritage, who are counted within the Arab ethnic group.

Working for Birmingham

Palestinian-heritage doctors, engineers, pharmacists, teachers and academics work in Birmingham's hospitals, universities and schools. Palestinian families run businesses in food and retail, and students are active in the life of the city's campuses, building careers in medicine, law, engineering and business.

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 Palestinian community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Tatreez, the traditional cross-stitch embroidery, is a treasured craft passed from mothers to daughters, and olive oil and za'atar are at the heart of Palestinian cooking. Dishes such as maqluba and musakhan are shared at family gatherings, and the dabke is danced at weddings and celebrations.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Palestinian community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.