Saudi Arabian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula and is home to Mecca and Medina, the holiest cities of Islam. It has invested heavily in education, and many young Saudis have studied abroad on government scholarships. Saudis in Birmingham include students, doctors in training and professionals.

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

Working for Birmingham

Saudi students in Birmingham study medicine, dentistry, engineering, business, law and computing, and many junior doctors train in NHS hospitals before returning home. Their studies help to build Saudi Arabia's future, while their presence adds to the international life of Birmingham's universities and neighbourhoods.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Saudi Arabian community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Ramadan and Eid are the most important times of the year, and Saudi National Day on 23 September is celebrated with green flags and gatherings. Kabsa, spiced rice with meat, is the national dish, and Arabic coffee served with dates is a symbol of welcome and hospitality.

The story of the Saudi Arabian 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.