.jpg)
The History of Arabs in London
Arabs have been visiting these shores for thousands of years, but large scale immigration began by the end of the 19th century, today there are an estimated half a million Arabs living in the UK, mainly in the capital itself.
Ancient beginnings
There is evidence that people from Arab lands visited Britain in pre-Roman times, trading tin in Cornwall. During Roman occupation, Britain and many Arabs lands formed part of a vast empire, trading goods and people moving relatively freely.
Trade and conquest
The Crusades were hardly a high point in Arab and European relations. They did, however, have the beneficial effect of introducing Arabic ideas and knowledge into Europe, and this had a significant part to play in sparking the Renaissance from the end of the 14th century.
From the 1580s there is evidence of increasing trade between Britain and the Middle East, with numerous references to Arab figures in Shakespeare and other literature. These people would largely have been visiting merchants, in London for short periods only.
Cultural influence and learning
The Middle Ages in Europe were a time of cultural and scientific stagnation, with much ancient learning lost. In the Arab and Muslim world, however, this ancient learning, much of it from Greece and Rome, was preserved and built upon.
For a thousand years, Arabic Muslim civilisation stretched from southern Spain as far as China. From the 7th century onwards, scholars of many faiths built on the ancient knowledge of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, making breakthroughs that paved the way for the Renaissance. The Arabs played a major part in all of this and their influence on Europe was profound.
In southern Spain, the Andulucian Arabs developed a thriving culture that had a steady influence on the rest of Europe. For example, by the 10th century, it is said that the city of Cordoba had 700 mosques, 60,000 palaces, and 70 libraries, the largest of which held up to 600,000 books. The largest library in Christian Europe at the time had no more than 400 manuscripts.
Andalucian Arabic culture had a wide-ranging influence on Europe in areas such as medicine, philosophy, agriculture, cooking and the sciences.
A world where scholars and men of learning flourished
HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, said in a recent public speech at Oxford University:
"If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the Islamic world. It is a failure, which stems, I think, from the straight-jacket of history, which we have inherited. The medieval Islamic world, from central Asia to the shores of the Atlantic, was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished. But because we have tended to see Islam as the enemy of the West, as an alien culture, society, and system of belief, we have tended to ignore or erase its great relevance to our own history."
The first Arab residents
The first sizeable Arab community in Britain was made up of Yemeni sailors who settled in the docklands area of London and in some other major ports, including Cardiff and South Shields, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The British had a strong presence in the Yemen at the time, at the port of Aden, which was hugely important because of its strategic location.
These early Arab residents were almost all men, many settling down in the country and marrying local women. As the importance of these ports started to decline in the 1950s, the populations tended to disperse.
Waves of immigration
During the 20th century there were various waves of immigration into the UK.
- In the 1930s, a number of Iraqi Christians arrived, followed by a wave of political refugees following a revolution in Iraq in 1958.
- In the 1950 and 60s, many north African Arabs from countries like Morocco came to London to work in the hospitality and hotel industries.
- In 1967 The Council for Arab-British Understanding was set up in London with the aim of improving links between the Arab world and Britain.
The coming of oil wealth
From the 1970s, a new kind of Arab visitor was starting to visit London: wealthy Arabs from across the Middle East, bringing money created by the soaring price of oil. Many Arabs in the UK started to establish businesses around this time, particularly in the area around the Edgware Road.
Political upheavals
Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and into this century, unrest and upheaval has brought Arabs to London, seeking work and safety. They have come from countries such as:
- Lebanon
- Iraq
- Syria
- Palestine
- Sudan
Although many came looking for asylum, fleeing from problems back home, many also came looking for opportunities, higher education and professional advancement.
Some, of course, have had to leave behind their professions, and find it difficult to make full use of their skills and qualifications here in the UK.
Professions, careers and businesses
Arabs in the UK tend to be more highly skilled and qualified than the average for the population as a whole, with relatively high proportions involved in managerial or professional occupations.
Arabs have also established many businesses in the UK over the years, especially the coffee shops and patisseries which can be found all over the capital.
Many Arabs in London also still work in areas such as hotels and hospitality.
Where are the Arab communities?
Arabs are to be found living all over London.
- The central areas around the Edgware Road, SW 1, W1 and W2 all have sizeable Arab communities
- There is an area around Paddington known affectionately as Little Arabia because of its high proportion of Arabic restaurants
- The Tower Hamlets area is known for its Somali population.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the central Borough of Westminster has the highest density of Arabic speakers. Knightsbridge is also known for its Arab population, and of course is home to Harrods.
The department store was recently bought by the Qatar Holding group, which paid £1.5 billion in April 2010 to buy Harrods from Mohamed Al Fayed, QH is led by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani.
Arabs in London Today
The number of Arabs living in London today is open to much debate. The 2001 census shows 106,000 Arabs living in London, but the census was deeply flawed on this issue.
The 2011 census should give a clearer picture, as it will include 'Arab' as a separate ethnic group.
It is thought the number of Arabs living in the capital today is closer to three hundred thousand - with a further one and half million Arabs visiting each year on holiday, on business, for education or simply to shop and access services.
The majority of Arabs in London today come from countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, the Gulf States and Iraq.
They tend to fall into one of four categories:
- The wealthy migrants
- The professionals
- The migrant workers
- The refugees.
A word on Arab identity
Who are the Arabs? What makes someone an Arab?
Not all Muslims are Arabs. A Muslim follows the Islamic faith, whereas an Arab comes from a particular region.
Not all Arabs are Muslims. Some are Christians, Jews and other follow a variety of other faiths.
It is true, however, that the majority of Arabs are Muslims.
There are three main ways to define Arab identity, with no clear agreement on which is best.
- Genealogical - someone descended from the original tribes of Arabia who lived in the Arabian Peninsula and Syrian Desert.
- Linguistic - someone who speaks Arabic as their first language
- Political - someone who lives in an Arabic country - typically one where Arabic is the main language, or one of the main languages, or which is a member of the Arab League.
The History of Arabs in London
Arabs have been visiting these shores for thousands of years, but large scale immigration began by the end of the 19th century, today there are an estimated half a million Arabs living in the UK, mainly in the capital itself.
Ancient beginnings
There is evidence that people from Arab lands visited Britain in pre-Roman times, trading tin in Cornwall. During Roman occupation, Britain and many Arabs lands formed part of a vast empire, trading goods and people moving relatively freely.
Trade and conquest
The Crusades were hardly a high point in Arab and European relations. They did, however, have the beneficial effect of introducing Arabic ideas and knowledge into Europe, and this had a significant part to play in sparking the Renaissance from the end of the 14th century.
From the 1580s there is evidence of increasing trade between Britain and the Middle East, with numerous references to Arab figures in Shakespeare and other literature. These people would largely have been visiting merchants, in London for short periods only.
Cultural influence and learning
The Middle Ages in Europe were a time of cultural and scientific stagnation, with much ancient learning lost. In the Arab and Muslim world, however, this ancient learning, much of it from Greece and Rome, was preserved and built upon.
For a thousand years, Arabic Muslim civilisation stretched from southern Spain as far as China. From the 7th century onwards, scholars of many faiths built on the ancient knowledge of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, making breakthroughs that paved the way for the Renaissance. The Arabs played a major part in all of this and their influence on Europe was profound.
In southern Spain, the Andulucian Arabs developed a thriving culture that had a steady influence on the rest of Europe. For example, by the 10th century, it is said that the city of Cordoba had 700 mosques, 60,000 palaces, and 70 libraries, the largest of which held up to 600,000 books. The largest library in Christian Europe at the time had no more than 400 manuscripts.
Andalucian Arabic culture had a wide-ranging influence on Europe in areas such as medicine, philosophy, agriculture, cooking and the sciences.
A world where scholars and men of learning flourished
HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, said in a recent public speech at Oxford University:
"If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the Islamic world. It is a failure, which stems, I think, from the straight-jacket of history, which we have inherited. The medieval Islamic world, from central Asia to the shores of the Atlantic, was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished. But because we have tended to see Islam as the enemy of the West, as an alien culture, society, and system of belief, we have tended to ignore or erase its great relevance to our own history."
The first Arab residents
The first sizeable Arab community in Britain was made up of Yemeni sailors who settled in the docklands area of London and in some other major ports, including Cardiff and South Shields, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The British had a strong presence in the Yemen at the time, at the port of Aden, which was hugely important because of its strategic location.
These early Arab residents were almost all men, many settling down in the country and marrying local women. As the importance of these ports started to decline in the 1950s, the populations tended to disperse.
Waves of immigration
During the 20th century there were various waves of immigration into the UK.
- In the 1930s, a number of Iraqi Christians arrived, followed by a wave of political refugees following a revolution in Iraq in 1958.
- In the 1950 and 60s, many north African Arabs from countries like Morocco came to London to work in the hospitality and hotel industries.
- In 1967 The Council for Arab-British Understanding was set up in London with the aim of improving links between the Arab world and Britain.
The coming of oil wealth
From the 1970s, a new kind of Arab visitor was starting to visit London: wealthy Arabs from across the Middle East, bringing money created by the soaring price of oil. Many Arabs in the UK started to establish businesses around this time, particularly in the area around the Edgware Road.
Political upheavals
Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and into this century, unrest and upheaval has brought Arabs to London, seeking work and safety. They have come from countries such as:
- Lebanon
- Iraq
- Syria
- Palestine
- Sudan
Although many came looking for asylum, fleeing from problems back home, many also came looking for opportunities, higher education and professional advancement.
Some, of course, have had to leave behind their professions, and find it difficult to make full use of their skills and qualifications here in the UK.
Professions, careers and businesses
Arabs in the UK tend to be more highly skilled and qualified than the average for the population as a whole, with relatively high proportions involved in managerial or professional occupations.
Arabs have also established many businesses in the UK over the years, especially the coffee shops and patisseries which can be found all over the capital.
Many Arabs in London also still work in areas such as hotels and hospitality.
Where are the Arab communities?
Arabs are to be found living all over London.
- The central areas around the Edgware Road, SW 1, W1 and W2 all have sizeable Arab communities
- There is an area around Paddington known affectionately as Little Arabia because of its high proportion of Arabic restaurants
- The Tower Hamlets area is known for its Somali population.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the central Borough of Westminster has the highest density of Arabic speakers. Knightsbridge is also known for its Arab population, and of course is home to Harrods.
The department store was recently bought by the Qatar Holding group, which paid £1.5 billion in April 2010 to buy Harrods from Mohamed Al Fayed, QH is led by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani.
Arabs in London Today
The number of Arabs living in London today is open to much debate. The 2001 census shows 106,000 Arabs living in London, but the census was deeply flawed on this issue.
The 2011 census should give a clearer picture, as it will include 'Arab' as a separate ethnic group.
It is thought the number of Arabs living in the capital today is closer to three hundred thousand - with a further one and half million Arabs visiting each year on holiday, on business, for education or simply to shop and access services.
The majority of Arabs in London today come from countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, the Gulf States and Iraq.
They tend to fall into one of four categories:
- The wealthy migrants
- The professionals
- The migrant workers
- The refugees.
A word on Arab identity
Who are the Arabs? What makes someone an Arab?
Not all Muslims are Arabs. A Muslim follows the Islamic faith, whereas an Arab comes from a particular region.
Not all Arabs are Muslims. Some are Christians, Jews and other follow a variety of other faiths.
It is true, however, that the majority of Arabs are Muslims.
There are three main ways to define Arab identity, with no clear agreement on which is best.
- Genealogical - someone descended from the original tribes of Arabia who lived in the Arabian Peninsula and Syrian Desert.
- Linguistic - someone who speaks Arabic as their first language
- Political - someone who lives in an Arabic country - typically one where Arabic is the main language, or one of the main languages, or which is a member of the Arab League.
Use this form to find out how to get from one location to another using buses, trains or on foot. You have three options:
1) Enter an address, p.code or attraction.
2) Enter a town or village.
3) Enter a bus or train stop name.
Prayer Times Monday
| Fajr | 3:10 |
| Sunrise |
5:00
|
| Zuhr |
12:59
|
| Asr |
5:14
|
| Maghrib |
8:55
|
| Isha |
10:50
|
|
|
