In the 1890s, there were many Lebanese immigrants coming to Australia. From 1920, the Lebanese and Syrians were able to become Australian citizens. At the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, over twenty thousand came to live in Australia. There were many who were poor and more than half of them were Muslims. The situation in Lebanon caused more to come to Australia in the 1970s and 1980s. An Australian Arab is a citizen of Australia whose ancestry originates from an Arab country. The biggest Australian Arab groups are according to the 2001 census, the Lebanese, then the Egyptians, Iraqis, Syrians, Palestinians, and Jordanians in that order. They speak Arabic and English.

Most Lebanese Australians live in Sydney. Others are in Melbourne and Brisbane. Egyptian Australians live mainly in Sydney and Melbourne. Many came to Australia in the late 1940s and 1950s. About two thousand Egyptian Jews left Egypt. Immigration from Jordan is largely recent and has increased in the last few years. Most Jordanian Australians live in New South Wales. Saudis tend to live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and other cities. Immigration to Australia by the Kuwaitis has increased much in the last few years. They live mainly in New South Wales and Victoria.

Some of the Lebanese in Melbourne have restaurants and grocery shops. There are many Lebanese-Australian business groups. This strengthens economic ties between Lebanon and Australia. Students are usually from the wealthier countries like the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. There is an increasing number of Saudi Arabs in Australia. They are studying such things as computers, medical work, accounting, etc.

The Lebanese Australians are mainly Maronite Catholics while most others are Muslims. Most Egyptian Australians are Copts. The Arabs from the wealthy Gulf states are solidly Muslim.

Many Palestinian Australians came because of war and economic problems in their homeland. All of the Arabs, especially those with a Muslim background, need to experience freedom in Christ. They need someone to take the gospel to them in a way they can understand.

* Scripture Prayers for the Arab, general in Australia.

The Palestinian people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers them in John 10:10.