People group profile · PG011489
The Saidi Arabs of Egypt
The Saidi Arabs of Egypt, numbering about 27,110,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are the Arabic-speaking population of Upper Egypt's Nile Valley from Beni Suef to the Sudan border, who identify as the most direct descendants of the ancient Pharaonic Egyptians and maintain strong tribal solidarity and honor codes.
They are an indigenous people in the Arab, Egyptian people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Saidi Arabic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Egypt
- Population
- 27,110,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Egyptian
- Primary language
- Saidi Arabic (aec)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Northern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Widespread: Al-Minya governorate and south to Sudan border; Red Sea area; Cairo area
Where they live
Gospel status
The Saidi Arabs are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Saidi Arabs
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
85% adherents
Primary language
Saidi Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Saidi Arabic
Gospel resources in Saidi Arabic
- Bible available, published -
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Upper Egyptian Colloquial · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Saidi Arabs
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
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