Arab Uruguayans () are
residents or citizens of Uruguay of
Arab ethnicity, whose ancestry predominantly traces back to any of various waves of immigrants from the
Arab world
The Arab world ( '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, comprises a large group of countries, mainly located in West Asia and North Africa. While the majority of people in ...
, especially
Lebanon and
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
.
Overview
Arab Uruguayans originated mainly from what is now
Lebanon (of which there may be over 50,000 descendants
); a notable trend was immigration during
Ottoman times; for this reason, Arab Uruguayans are traditionally (and wrongly) denominated "turcos" (Turks). There are also individuals from other Arab countries such as
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
,
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
, Morocco and
Palestine.
Most Uruguayans of Arabic descent are Christians (
Maronites), with some Muslim minorities.
There was also a small influx of
Arab Jews, who have since lost their Arab cultural identity.
Arab Uruguayans are among the smallest Arab diaspora groups in the world. There are some 500 Arab-speaking people in the border towns of
Chuy and
Rivera.
Lately there are two noticeable trends:
* Syrian refugees who flee from the
Syrian Civil War,
* Arab investors interested in Uruguay, who created the Uruguayan-Arab Chamber (in cooperation with the
Gulf Cooperation Council).
Notable people
*
Alberto Abdala, Vice President of Uruguay 1967-1972, of Lebanese descent
*
Washington Abdala
Manuel Juan Washington Abdala Remerciari, aka el Turco (born 8 September 1959, in Montevideo) is a List of Uruguayan lawyers, Uruguayan lawyer and politician.
He was a National Representative for the Colorado Party (Uruguay), Colorado Party from ...
, lawyer and politician,
President of the Chamber of Deputies (2000), of Lebanese descent
*
Hebert Abimorad, journalist and poet of Lebanese descent
*
Matías Abisab, footballer
*
Alejandro Apud, football manager
*
Cacho de la Cruz, entertainer, of Moroccan descent
*
Amir Hamed, writer and translator, of Syrian descent
* Christian Mirza, academic, of Egyptian descent
Interview with Christian Mirza
/ref>
* Jorge Nasser, musician, of Lebanese descent
* Amin Niffouri, politician, of Syrian descent
See also
* Lebanese Uruguayans
* Palestinian Uruguayans
* Syrians in Uruguay
References
*
{{Uruguay-hist-stub