Every April, Arab American Heritage Month (AAHM) invites us to celebrate the often unrecognized history, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans. However, for many workplaces the question isn’t whether or not to recognize the month, but how to do it in a way that isn’t performative and ultimately feels inclusive and intentional.

From storytelling to hiring practice reviews, there are countless ways to respectfully and meaningfully celebrate Arab heritage that gets beyond the surface level.

Title Image - Arab American Heritage Month

In this article we’ll explore:

The History of AAHM

In 2021, the U.S. State Department recognized AAHM for the first time with Spokesperson Ned Price stating:

“The United States is home to more than 3.5 million Arab Americans representing a diverse array of cultures and traditions. Like their fellow citizens, Americans of Arab heritage are very much a part of the fabric of this nation. And Arab Americans have contributed in every field and profession, many of them, in fact, serve here at the State Department and throughout the interagency.”

This recognition followed decades of advocacy by groups like the Arab American Institute (AAI) and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), who worked to spotlight the cultural, historical, and civic contributions of Arab communities.

Progress Continues

In 2022, President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to declare April as AAHM.

Celebrations have expanded and include a number of cultural events featuring art, music, performances, and food alongside educational institutions crafting initiatives to promote respect and understanding. This is especially important with such a diverse community that encompasses a diverse landscape of ethnicity, languages, and communities. In fact, there are over 300 million Arabs in the world.

Who Are Considered Arab?

Arabs are generally identified as individuals who can trace their ancestry to one or more of the 22 member nations of the Arab League:

While small numbers of Arab immigrants have arrived in North America throughout history, the first major wave came toward the end of the 19th century, primarily from the Levant region: modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. Since the 1950s, newer waves of Arab immigration have expanded to include people from across the entire Arab world.

Today, there are an estimated 3.5 million Arab Americans. However, the U.S. Census does not include a separate “Middle Eastern and North African (MENA)” category. Instead, Arabs and other Middle Easterners are classified as “White,” which leads to significant underreporting.

Arab Americans have long advocated for a distinct MENA category. In fact, when given that option, the number of Arab respondents identifying as “White” drops dramatically—from 85.5% to just 20%.

To help bridge this data gap, organizations like the Arab American Institute (AAI) have conducted independent research and polls. This virtual map is a great example—it highlights the discrepancy between Census numbers and AAI's findings on Arab American populations across states.

While a handful of Arab immigrants are recorded to have arrived in North America throughout history, the first major wave of Arab immigrants to both the U.S. and Canada arrived towards the end of the 19th century, primarily from the Levant region (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan).

From the 1950s onwards, however, more recent waves of Arab immigration have been comprised of immigrants from all corners of the Arab world.

Influential Arab Figures in American History

Mona Hanna-Attisha: Iraqi-American pediatrician, professor, and public health advocate whose research exposed the dangerous lead levels in Flint, Michigan’s water.

Jack Shaheen: Lebanese-American educator and author of Reel Bad Arabs, The TV Arab, and Arab and Muslim Stereotyping in American Popular Culture. Dedicated his life to documenting, exposing and fighting against anti-Arab and anti-Muslim stereotypes.

Ahmed Zewail: Egyptian-American chemist who was awarded the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for being the founder of femtochemistry.

Edward Said: World-renowned Palestinian-American scholar, activist, and founder of Postcolonial Studies. Most known for his monumental book, Orientalism, which documented and analyzed the history of racist and dehumanizing depictions of “The East” in European scholarship, art, and literature.

Lila Abu-Lughod: Palestinian-American anthropologist and professor. Most known for her critical work, Do Muslim Women Need Saving?. Daughter of legendary scholar, Ibrahim Abu-Lughod.

Farouk El-Baz: Egyptian-American space scientist and geologist. Worked with NASA as a leading geologist responsible for studying the geology of the moon and participated in the planning and landing of the Apollo missions.

Rashida Tlaib: Palestinian-American politician and lawyer who serves as the representative for Michigan.

Rami Malek: Egyptian-American actor who was the first of Egyptian descent to win an Academy Award for Best Actor.

How To Recognize Arab American Heritage Month at Work

✔️ If you work in the medical field, consider hosting an info session on Al-Zahrawi, the father of modern surgery.

✔️ If you work in engineering, construction, or robotics, consider a session on Ismail al-Jazari, a pioneer of robotics, hydraulics, and modern-day engineering.

✔️ If you work in education, consider a session on Fatima Al-Fihri, founder of Al-Qarawiyyin, a joint mosque and university in Morocco and the oldest operating higher education institution in the world.

✔️ If your team does a lunch-and-learn series, try a cultural spotlight featuring Arab cuisine, traditional music, or storytelling sessions.

✔️ Consider booking training focused on Arab Americans and AAHM.

Re-evaluate Your Recruiting and Hiring Practices

During Arab American Heritage Month, consider taking some time to re-evaluate your recruiting and hiring practices in order to ensure that you and your team are making a direct effort to reach out to and include Arab applicants and to eliminate any possibility of anti-Arab bias in the recruitment process.

Open Up Your Space for Arab Advocates and Community Leaders

An inclusive workplace actively makes space for voices from the community. Invite Arab American advocates, historians, or inclusivity experts to speak on:

Common microaggressions and how to address them
Identity and representation in the workplace

Intersectionality within the Arab American community (race, religion, language, etc.)

You might also host a panel featuring Arab employees to share their experiences—just be sure participation is voluntary, well-compensated, and not tokenizing.

Beyond the Month

Arab American Heritage Month is more than a moment: it’s a movement towards recognition, inclusion, and intentional celebration. Whether you’re spotlighting trailblazers, rethinking your policies and procedures, or simply making space for stories to be shared, each action contributes to a more respectful and representative workplace.

By moving beyond performative gestures and embracing year-round cultural awareness, organizations can ensure Arab American voices are heard, empowered, and respected.

April may be AAHM, but your organization's commitment to inclusion should last all year.

How to Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month at Work