| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 10,000 (2018) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Bucharest | |
| Languages | |
| Arabic language Romanian language | |
| Religion | |
| Islam,Christianity,Druze | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Arab people,Arab diaspora,Arab American,Arab Argentine,Arab Brazilian,Arab Canadians,Arab Mexican |
Arabs in Romania (Romanian:Arabii din România) are people fromArab countries who live in Romania. The firstFellah settlers came in 1831 - 1833 fromOttoman Syria toDobruja. They assimilated in the Turkish-Tatarian Population.[1] Some of them came to Romania during theCeaușescu era, when many Arab students were granted scholarships to study in Romanian universities. Most of them were Algerians, Syrians, Palestinians, Iraqis, Libyans, Egyptians, and Yemenis. Most of these students returned to their countries of origin, but some remained in Romania starting families here. It is estimated that almost half a millionMiddle Eastern Arabs studied in Romania during the 1980s.[2]A new wave of Arab immigration started after theRomanian Revolution. Many of the newly arrived Arabs came to Romania in the 1990s in order to develop businesses. In addition, Romania has people from Arab countries who have the status of refugees (Refugees of the Syrian civil war) or illegal immigrants, primarily from North Africa, trying to immigrate to Western Europe. In particular, theEuropean migrant crisis lead to Syrian people coming to Romania, although many Syrians were already living in Romania at the time of the crisis.[3]
In 2005, it was estimated that about 5,000 Arabs lived in Romania at that time (the number 5,000 includes not only Arabs but also Kurds, Iranians, Afghans, Berber, Assyrians and others).[4][5] However, more Arabs have migrated to Romania since then. For example, in 2017, Romania granted residence status to 1330 Arabs, most of them from Syria (almost half), followed by Iraq.[6] Most Arabs in Romania are Muslim, but there are alsoChristian Arabs.[7]Today, Arabs of Romania are from many Arab countries, particularly Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, and also small groups from Jordan, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Palestinian Territories, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Eritrea, Yemen, Mauritania, Comoros, Djibouti who emigrated from their native nations and currently reside in Romania.
The majority are ethnically Arab but there are numerous groups who include Kurds, Copts, Druze, Maronites, Assyrians, Berbers, Africans, Turkmen, Roma and others.
In March 2023, some Arabs living in Romania have started the proceedings to be recognized as an officialnational minority of Romania.[8]