A podcast, an algorithm and a star-studded rally. These are some of the ways Arab Americans are encouraging their neighbours and online followers to make sure the community is represented in this election.
While they may be a comparatively small voting bloc nationally, the memory of 2016, when Donald Trump won in Michigan by about 10,000 votes, remains strong.
The 350,000 Arabs in the state are keenly aware that they could determine the direction in which the swing state goes.
“That’s my friend, or my cousin, or somebody in my life who feels like their vote doesn’t matter,” said Yasmeen Kadouh, 25.
Ms Kadouh runs the Dearborn Girl podcast, and after years of feeling that Arab Americans were misrepresented in media or used as political props, she is focused on creating a platform where they can "reclaim their identity".
It is a recurring sentiment among Arab Americans who have watched Mr Trump, and others before him, encourage discrimination against their community.
“If we are standing on the sidelines and letting others set the narrative without our input, without our voices, we end up losing out,” said Tazeen Ahmad, the founder of Muslim Women for Biden.
Women such as Ms Kadouh and Ms Ahmad are determined to harness the voting power in their communities to bring about change in this election.
"As an Arab American, as a Muslim American, I don't feel safe living in Trump's America," Ms Kadouh told The National.
"And Trump’s America is not going to go away the day that he steps out of office."
She pauses, then adds: “It’s crazy and wild that I actually have to say those words.”
In Arab-American neighbourhoods they represent a significant percentage of the vote, enough to sway results.
But trying to reach beyond your inner circle in this election has been a challenge made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Data-driven campaigning
Mohamed Gula and Aysha Ahmed of Emgage, a civic engagement group, are on a mission to reach as many Muslim Americans as possible.
Emgage has used a savvy digital strategy to reach their goals. It has made one million phone calls and sent two million text messages to try to rally the community.
They do not support a candidate. They just want to ensure Muslims are voting.
So far, in the 13 states in which they operate, they say 439,000 Muslims have voted early.
To reach the far corners of the community, they teamed up with a data scientist to build an algorithm that could help them to better connect with the nearly 3.5 million Muslims living in the US.
Their algorithm scans voter databases for names traditionally associated with the Arab community, such as Ahmed, Mohammed, Farheen, Khalifa, Aliah and Maryam.
Emgage also relies on data-mining company Catalyst to find Muslims.
Armed with a narrowed list of names provided by the algorithm, Emgage maximises its efforts to reach a goal of one million registered Muslim voters.
“We knew that we'd be able to leverage the data and make certain policy changes that were representative of the Muslim community’s values,” Mr Gula said.
Last year, they did just that.
The group registered more than 600 Muslim community members as Democrats in Fairfax, Virginia, to vote in the 2019 primaries.
They were campaigning to elect Libyan-American Abrar Omeish to the local school board.
But their plans were disrupted when they realised that election day fell right in the middle of Ramadan.
“Because of the number of Muslim sign-ups, they were willing to change the rule of voting out of respect for us breaking our fast and praying during Ramadan," Mr Gula said.
"So they gave us three or four early vote days as well."
Ms Omeish, 24, won a seat on the board, becoming the youngest elected official in the state.
A wave of activism
Arab-American voters have come together during this election in ways that highlight the significance of this vote.
“I've never seen this level of engagement from any campaign that I've actually been a part of,” said Fayrouz Saad, who worked for the Obama administration and co-founded Arab Americans for Biden.
Interconnected volunteer groups emerged this year to connect Arab voters and channel the collective urgency felt among community members.
This election gave birth to groups including Arab Americans for Biden, Muslims for Biden and Muslim Women for Biden.
The Trump administration has made this election personal for Arabs, said Ridah Sabouni, chair of the Democrats Abroad UAE chapter.
"Trump really wants to isolate and marginalise the Arab-American community. I think the opposite has happened. I think he has empowered us," Mr Sabouni told The National.
Arab Americans for Biden has more than 100 volunteers who raise funds, take to the phones, and even held an online "Yalla Vote" rally featuring Hollywood actors.
Americans for Biden hopes to weave together a voting bloc that will triumph over Trump supporters and provide representation for the community.
This is the first election in which a campaign has released a document that directly addresses Arab voters.
Mr Biden’s campaign has outlined promises that include repealing the Muslim ban on his first day in office, addressing hate crimes and restoring economic and humanitarian assistance to Palestine.
Polls show the majority of Arab Americans intend to vote for Mr Biden. But a minority of voters have not been deterred by Mr Trump’s antics.
Mike Hacham voted for Mr Trump in 2016 and looks forward to voting for him again.
He is a member of the Arab American Conservatives, and admits that the Republican Party has done a poor job in reaching out to Arab voters in this election.
"The Democrats are filling in that void,” said Mr Hacham, a Lebanese-American resident of Dearborn.
“They say Trump is racist, and I don't disagree with them that Trump has said things in the past and done things in the past that look bad on my community.
"But we’ve got to look beyond that."
Despite his misgivings about Mr Trump, Mr Hacham is voting with his wallet and says he is among many small business owners in the community who are doing the same.
No matter the outcome of the election, there is a resounding feeling among Arab Americans that the political activism harnessed in this election needs to continue after November 3.
The community has big aspirations, and now they are organised and demanding representation.
“We've learnt to stand up for the democracy and freedom that our parents took the risk for in coming to this great country,” the former US ambassador to Morocco, Edward Gabriel, said during the Yalla Vote rally.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
MATCH INFO
FA Cup fifth round
Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16. first leg
Atletico Madrid v Juventus, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
First-round leaderbaord
-5 C Conners (Can)
-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);
-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)
Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)
Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng)
1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)
3 R McIlroy (NI)
4 D Johnson (US)
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
