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People group profile · PG011696

The Saudi Arabs of Iraq

The Saudi Arabs of Iraq, numbering about 2,000,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Najdi Arab community rooted in migrations from central Arabia to Iraq, especially Al-Zubair near Basra, where settlers preserved family, tribal, and religious institutions.

They are a diaspora people in the Bedouin, Arabian people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Najdi Arabic.

Pray for the Saudi ArabsPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Saudi Arabs people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Arab, Bedouin

Fast facts

Country
Iraq
Population
2,000,000
Affinity group
Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
People cluster
Bedouin, Arabian
Primary language
Najdi Arabic (ars)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Western Asia, Asia

Where they live

Gospel status

The Saudi Arabs are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Saudi Arabs

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Sunni Islam · Islam

99% adherents

Primary language

Najdi Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family

100% speak Najdi Arabic

Gospel resources in Najdi Arabic

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Saudi Arabs

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

Download a prayer guide

Arab, Bedouin in other countries

The same people (ROP3 101193) is reported in 3 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
Saudi ArabsSyria1,495,000Unengaged and Unreached
Bedouin ArabsSaudi Arabia1,440,000Engaged yet Unreached
Bedouin ArabsJordan1,370,000Unengaged and Unreached

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