Arab Americans are people in the United States whose families come from Arab countries.* They are part of many different communities and may have different traditions, foods, languages, and religions, but they all help make the United States a richer and more diverse place.

Arab American Heritage Month in May is a time to learn about their history, cultures, and important contributions in art, science, business, education, and everyday life.

*There are 22 Arab countries, based on the current member states of the League of Arab States (Arab League): Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Note: Not all countries in the Middle East are Arab countries, and not all Arab countries are in the Middle East. Some are in North Africa, too.