NonArabs

Non-Arabs is a term used in sociolinguistic and demographic contexts to refer to people who are not ethnically Arab. In discussions about the Arab world, Arabic language, and regional identity, non-Arabs are those who do not identify as Arab by ethnicity, language, or self-identification. Because Arab identity is intertwined with language and culture, the boundary between Arab and non-Arab is not fixed and varies by context, making the term contingent and sometimes contested.

The Arab world includes numerous non-Arab ethnic groups and communities. In North Africa, Amazigh (Berber) populations have long been present alongside Arab communities in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. In the Mashriq, Kurds in parts of Iraq and Syria, and Turkmen, along with other minority groups, contribute to the region’s diversity. Egypt’s Copts and Nubians, among others, are non-Arab by ethnicity though they participate in broader national life. Sub-Saharan Africans, South Asians, and other immigrant groups also reside across Arab-majority states, often forming distinct communities within their host countries.

Language plays a central role. Arabic serves as a common lingua franca in many states, and it is the official language in several, but non-Arab ethnic groups may maintain distinct languages or dialects. National or religious identities can overlap with or supersede ethnicity.

The term can be sensitive and its use varies by scholar, policy context, and community self-identification. Some prefer to name groups by their own ethnolinguistic identity rather than as a contrast to Arabs. Overall, the category is fluid and reflects complex histories of migration, conquest, and cultural exchange.