Arab Diaspora - Notable Persons

Notable Persons

Prominent members of the Arab diaspora include;

• Abdalá Bucaram (Lebanese origin), former President of Ecuador
• Alberto Dahik (Lebanese origin), former Vice President of Ecuador
• André Apaid (Lebanese origin), high profile Haitian businessman
• Antoine Izméry (Palestinian origin), Former wealthy Haitian businessman and pro-democracy activist
• Antonio Saca (Palestinian origin), former President of El Salvador
• Matteo Ferrari (Algerian origin), Italian footballer
• Mari Al Kathiri (East Timor origin), Prime Minister of East Timor 2002–2006
• Migidio Bourifa (Moroccan origin), is an Italian long-distance runner
• Magdi Allam (Egyptian origin), is Italian journalist
• Malika Ayane (Moroccan origin), Italian Singer
• Azzedine Alaia (Tunisian origin), prominent fashion designer.
• Bader Ben Hirsi (Yemeni origin), award-winning British-Yemeni director
• Bushido (Tunisian origin), German rapper
• Carlos Flores Facusse (Palestinian origin), former President of Honduras
• Carlos Ghosn (Lebanese origin), Brazilian born businessman, CEO of Nissan and Renault, former CEO of Michelin.
• Carlos Menem (Syrian origin), former President of Argentina
• Carlos Slim Helú (Lebanese origin), Mexican businessman. He was listed as the richest man in the world by Forbes.
• Charles Elachi (Lebanese origin), the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
• DJ Khaled (Palestinian origin), American DJ
• Edward Saïd (Palestinian origin), US intellectual
• Edward Seaga (Lebanese origin), former Prime Minister of Jamaica
• Elias Zerhouni (Algerian origin), former Director of National Institutes of Health (United States)
• La Fouine (Moroccan origin), French rapper
• Gilberto Kassab (Lebanese origin), current mayor of São Paulo
• Hala Gorani (Syrian origin), Journalist and anchor of CNN's International Desk.
• Hatem Ben Arfa (Tunisian origin), French footballer who currently plays for Newcastle United
• Jacobo Majluta Azar (Lebanese origin), former President of Dominican Republic
• Jaime Nebot (Lebanese origin), current Alcalde of Guayaquil, Ecuador
• Jamil Mahuad (Lebanese origin), former President of Ecuador
• Julio Cesar Turbay (Lebanese origin), former President of Colombia
• Justin Abdelkader (Jordanian origin), an American ice hockey player
• Karl Wolf (Lebanese origin), Canadian pop star
• Khaled (also of Algerian origin) Raï musician now living in France
• Lisa Hanna (Lebanese origin), Miss World 1993 of Jamaica
• Mário Zagallo (Lebanese origin),Brazilian football coach and former player
• Mitch Daniels (Syrian origin), Governor of Indiana
• Mohamed Al-Fayed (Egyptian origin), Businessman, former owner of London's Harrods and the Ritz Palace in Paris.
• Nadhmi Auchi (Iraqi origin), Businessman, founder and Chairman of General Mediterranean Holdings.
• Najib Balala (Yemeni origin), member of parliament in Kenya.
• Natasja Saad (Sudanese origin), Danish rapper and reggae singer.
• Paulo Maluf (Lebanese origin), politician, former mayor of São Paulo city and former governor of São Paulo state in Brazil
• Rachid Taha (Algerian origin) Raï musician now living in France
• Rachida Dati (Moroccan-Algerian origin)French politician and Member of the European Parliament, ex-Minister of Justice.
• Ralph Nader (Lebanese origin), 2004 US presidential candidate
• Ramez, (Lebanese origin) French rapper
• Said Musa (Palestinian origin), former Prime Minister of Belize
• Salma Hayek (Lebanese origin), Mexican actress.
• Salvador Jorge Blanco (Syrian origin), former President of Dominican Republic
• Samir Nasri (Algerian origin), French footballer who currently plays for Manchester City F.C.
• Schafik Handal (Palestinian origin), Salvadoran born FMLN leader
• Shakira, (Lebanese origin) Colombian singer and musician.
• Steve Jobs (Syrian origin), high profile American business magnate and inventor.
• Tarak Ben Ammar (Tunisian origin), international movie producer and distributor.
• Tariq Ramadan (Egyptian origin), Swiss intellectual
• Tige Andrews (Syrian origin), an American character actor
• Yasmine Bleeth(Algerian-American origin)American actress
• Yazid Sabeg (Algerian-born) businessman now living in France
• Zinedine Zidane (Algerian origin), French ex-international footballer
• Ibrahim Afellay (Moroccan origin), Dutch/Moroccan footballer of FC Barcelona
• Mounir El Hamdaoui (Moroccan origin), Dutch/Moroccan footballer of AFC Ajax
• Khadija Arib (Moroccan origin), Dutch politician
• Ahmed Aboutaleb (Moroccan origin), Dutch politician
• Maryam Hassouni (Moroccan origin), Dutch actress
• Laïla Abid (Moroccan origin), Dutch journalist
• Ali B (Moroccan origin), Dutch rapper