List of Arab Americans

This is a list of Arab Americans. It includes prominent and notable Arab American individuals from various fields, such as business, science, entertainment, sports and fine arts.

Academia

Science

• Elias J. Corey, Lebanese, organic chemistry professor at Harvard University, winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Chemistry^[1]
• Ahmed Zewail, Damanhour-born Egyptian, scientist, known as the "father of femtochemistry", winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Frank Harary, Syrian, Mathematician who is widely recognized as one of the "fathers" of modern graph theory
• Michael E. DeBakey, Lebanese, cardiovascular surgeon and researcher,^[2] 1963 Lasker Award laureate
• Hunein Maassab, Damascus-born Syrian, professor of epidemiology and the inventor of the live attenuated influenza vaccine
• Omar M. Yaghi, Amman-born Jordanian, reticular chemistry pioneer; winner of the 2018 Wolf Prize in Chemistry
• Mostafa El-Sayed, Egyptian, US National Medal of Science laureate; nanoscience researcher; known for the spectroscopy rule named after him, the El-Sayed rule
• Riad Barmada, Aleppo-born Syrian, served as the president of the Illinois Orthopedic Society
• Eman Ghoneim, Minea-born Egyptian, space scientist in desert regions
• Farouk El-Baz, Zagazig-born Egyptian, space scientist who worked with NASA to assist in the planning of scientific exploration of the Moon
• Huda Zoghbi, Beirut-born Lebanese, physician and medical researcher who discovered the genetic cause of the Rett syndrome
• Huda Akil, Damascus-born Syrian, neuroscientist and medical researcher
• Yasmine Belkaid, Algiers-born Algerian, immunologist, professor and a senior investigator at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• Mounir Laroussi, Sfax-born Tunisian, plasma physicist, pioneer of plasma medicine
• Joanne Chory, Lebanese, plant biologist and geneticist
• Anthony Atala, Peruvian-born Lebanese, Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine
• Noureddine Melikechi, Thénia-born, Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physicist, member of the Mars Science Laboratory
• Michel T. Halbouty, Lebanese, geologist and geophysicist; pioneer in oil field research
• Adah al-Mutairi, Saudi, inventor and scholar in nanotechnology and nanomedicine
• M. Amin Arnaout, Sidon-born Lebanese, nephrologist and biologist
• Essam Heggy, Libyan-born Egyptian, Planetary scientist
• Shadia Habbal, Homs-born Syrian, astronomer and physicist specialized in Space physics
• Miriam Merad, French-born Algerian, immunologist

Engineering/computer science

• Charles Elachi, Rayak-born Lebanese, professor of electrical engineering and planetary science at Caltech and the former director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Fawwaz T. Ulaby Damascus-born Syrian, professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, former Vice President of Research for the University of Michigan; first Arab-American winner of the IEEE Edison Medal
• Taher ElGamal, Cairo-born Egyptian, cryptographer, inventor of the ElGamal discrete log cryptosystem and the ElGamal signature scheme
• Ali H. Nayfeh, Tulkarm-born Palestinian, mechanical engineer, the 2014 recipient of Benjamin Franklin Medal in mechanical engineering
• Dina Katabi, Damascus-born Syrian, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and the director of the MIT Wireless Center.
• Abbas El Gamal, Cairo-born Egyptian, electrical engineer, educator and entrepreneur, the recipient of the 2012 Claude E. Shannon Award
• John Makhoul, Deirmimas-born Lebanese, computer scientist who works in the field of speech and language processing.
• Jerrier A. Haddad, Syrian, computer engineer who worked with IBM.
• Oussama Khatib, Aleppo-born Syrian, roboticist and a professor of computer science
• Elias Zerhouni, Nedroma-born Algerian, former director of the National Institutes of Health
• Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah, Nabatieh-born Lebanese, technology innovator.^[3][4] He received 43 patents.
• Mohammad S. Obaidat, Irbid-born Jordanian, computer science/engineering academic and scholar
• Charbel Farhat, Lebanese-American, Vivian Church Hoff Professor of Aircraft Structures in the School of Engineering and inaugural James and Anna Marie Spilker Chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, at Stanford University; Member of the National Academy of Engineering (US); Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK); and Member of the Lebanese Academy of Sciences
• Hany Farid, Egyptian, Professor of computer science at Dartmouth College, pioneer in Digital forensics
• Ahmed Tewfik, Cairo-born Egyptian, electrical engineer, Professor and college administrator
• Munther A. Dahleh, Tulkarm-born Palestinian, Professor and Director at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Humanities

• Ismail al-Faruqi, Jaffa-born Palestinian, philosopher, professor
• Fouad Ajami, Arnoun-born Lebanese, Professor of International Relations
• Saddeka Arebi, Tripoli-born Libyan, professor of anthropology at UC Berkeley
• Mohammed Adam El-Sheikh, Sudanese, executive director of the Fiqh Council of North America^[5]
• Samih Farsoun, Haifa-born Palestinian, sociology professor at the American University^[6]
• Philip Khuri Hitti, Shimlan-born Lebanese, historian of Arab culture and history
• Philip S. Khoury, Lebanese, Ford International Professor of History and Associate Provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Laura Nader, cultural anthropologist
• Edward Said, Jerusalem-born Palestinian, literary theorist and former professor at Columbia University
• Nada Shabout, UK-born Palestinian-Iraqi, Professor of Art History at University of North Texas
• Naseer Aruri, Jerusalem-born Palestinian, Chancellor Professor of Political Science at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
• Nadia Abu El Haj, Palestinian, Author & Professor of Anthropology at Barnard College and subject of a major tenure controversy case at Columbia University
• Ibrahim Abu-Lughod, Jaffa-born Palestinian, former Director of Graduate Studies at Northwestern University, father of Lila Abu-Lughod
• Lila Abu-Lughod, Palestinian, professor of Anthropology and Women's and Gender Studies at Columbia University
• Leila Farsakh, Jordan-born Palestinian, Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston
• Samih Farsoun, Professor of sociology at American University and editor of Arab Studies Quarterly
• Nadia Hijab, Syria-born Palestinian, Journalist with Middle East Magazine and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studies
• Rashid Khalidi, Palestinian, Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University
• Joseph Massad, Jordan-born Palestinian, Professor at Columbia University known for his work on nationalism and sexuality in the Arab world
• Hisham Sharabi, Jaffa-born Palestinian, Professor Emeritus of History
• Umar al-Mukhtar, Tobruk-born Libyan, Chair of Arab Culture at Georgetown University
• Rosemarie Said Zahlan, Egypt-born Palestinian, historian, journalist & author, sister of Edward Said
• Steven Salaita, Jordanian-Palestinian, former Professor of English at Virginia Tech, winner of Myers Outstanding Book Award for the Study of Human Rights 2007
• Majid Khadduri, Mosul-born Iraqi, academic and founder of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies Middle East Studies program
• Noura Erakat, Palestinian, human rights attorney and Assistant Professor at Rutgers University
• Thomas L. Saaty, Assyrian-Iraqi, University Professor at the University of Pittsburgh
• Nada Shabout, UK-born Palestinian-Iraqi, art historian and Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]}
• Ella Shohat, professor, author and activist
• Saadi Simawe, Diwaniyah-born Iraqi, translator, novelist and teacher
• Donny George Youkhanna, Habbaniyah-born Iraqi, archaeologist, anthropologist, author, curator, and scholar, and a visiting professor at Stony Brook University in New York
• Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, teaches religion, science, and freedom at the University of Maryland, College Park; directs the Minaret of Freedom Institute^[14][15]
• Muhsin Mahdi, Karbala-born Iraqi, Islamologist and Arabist.
• Talal Asad, Medina-born Saudi, anthropologist at the CUNY Graduate Center.

University presidents

• Mitch Daniels, Syrian, president of Purdue University
• Donna Shalala, Lebanese, president of the University of Miami
• Joseph E. Aoun, Beirut-born Lebanese, president of Northeastern University
• Robert Khayat, Lebanese, chancellor of the University of Mississippi
• Nido Qubein, Lebanese, president of High Point University
• David Adamany, Lebanese, former president of the Temple University

Business

• Steve Jobs, half Syrian,^[16][17] head and co-founder of Apple
• Tony Fadell, Polish-Lebanese, product development manager at Apple Inc., co-inventor of iPod and iPhone
• Joseph Nakash, billionaire real estate developer, founder of Jordache (of Syrian descent)
• Mohamed A. El-Erian, Egyptian, CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO
• Ayad B. Saad , Egyptian, Senior Vice President, Morgan Stanley
• Alec Gores, Israel-born Lebanese-Palestinian, founder of Gores Group; on the Forbes list of billionaires
• Jeff Sutton, billionaire real estate developer (of Syrian descent)
• Tom Gores, Israel-born Greek-Lebanese, founder and CEO of Platinum Equity; on the Forbes list of billionaires (Palestinian-born of Lebanese descent)
• Stanely Chera, billionaire New York real estate developer (of Syrian descent)
• Sam Gores, Israel-born Lebanese-Palestinian, founder of talent agency Paradigm Agency; on the Forbes list of billionaires^[18]
• Najeeb Halaby, Syrian,^[19] former head of Federal Aviation Administration and CEO of Pan-American Airlines, and father of Queen Noor of Jordan
• Joseph Sitt, real estate developer, founder of Thor Equities and Ashley Stewart (of Syrian descent)
• Ray R. Irani, Lebanon-born Palestinian, chairman and CEO of Occidental Petroleum
• Sonny Gindi, billionaire businessman, he founded along with his family Century 21 stores (of Syrian descent)
• Joseph Jacobs, Australia-born Lebanese, founder of Jacobs Engineering, one of the engineering firms in the US
• Joseph Cayre, billionaire real estate developer (of Syrian descent)
• Charif Souki, Cairo-born Egyptian, co-founder and former CEO of Cheniere Energy.
• Amin Khoury, businessman and founder of B/E Aerospace
• Omar Hamoui, founder and CEO of Google AdMob (Syrian)
• Lucie Salhany, Jordanian-Lebanese, former chairwoman of Fox Broadcasting Company.
• Naseeb Saliba, Lebanese, billionaire global philanthropist, construction and real estate mogul, founder of Tutor-Saliba Corporation.
• Marcus Lemonis, Beirut-born Lebanese-Syrian, chairman and CEO of Camping World, Good Sam Enterprises and Gander Outdoors.
• George Joseph, Lebanese, billionaire founder of Mercury Insurance Group.
• Jack Hidary, Syrian, founder of AI and quantum technology company SandboxAQ.
• Joe Jamail, businessman who was the wealthiest practicing attorney in America.
• Allen Adham, Lebanese, co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment.
• Mario Kassar, Beirut-born Lebanese-Italian, formerly headed Carolco Pictures^[20]
• John J. Mack, Lebanese,^[21] CEO of investment bank Morgan Stanley
• Maloof family, Lebanese family who owns numerous business properties in the Western United States, majority owners of the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Hotel in Paradise, Nevada
• Sam Moore, Beirut-born Lebanese, founder and president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest worldwide distributor of the Bible
• Manuel Moroun, Lebanese, owner of CenTra, Inc., the holding company which controls the Ambassador Bridge and Michigan Central Depot
• Adam Mosseri, Egyptian-Israeli, CEO of Instagram
• Jacques Nasser, Amyoun-born Lebanese, former president and CEO of Ford Motor Company (Lebanese)
• Efrem Harkham, Israel-born Iraqi-American, founder and CEO of LuxeHotels, owner of Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel
• Farouk Shami, Ramallah-born Palestinian, founder of Farouk systems, a Houston-based company that manufactures hair care and spa products like CHI hair Irons
• John Zogby, Lebanese, founder and current President/CEO of Zogby International
• Sam Yagan, Syrian, entrepreneur and business executive, co-founder of SparkNotes, eDonkey, OkCupid, and Techstars Chicago, also CEO of Match Group, including Tinder
• Rana el Kaliouby, Egyptian, computer scientist, CEO of Affectiva, Researcher at MIT Media Lab, contributor to facial expression recognition research and technology development
• Haim Saban, Egypt-born Israeli-American, television and media proprietor
• Douglas Jemal, real estate developer, co-founder of The Wiz (of Syrian descent)
• Huda Kattan, Iraqi, CEO of Huda Beauty
• Magid Abraham, Mashghara-born Lebanese, market research expert and businessman
• Charlie Shrem, entrepreneur and bitcoin advocate (of Syrian descent)
• Paul Orfalea, Lebanese, founder of Kinko's^[22]
• Richard E. Rainwater, Lebanese, investor and fund manager
• Robert Khuzami, Lebanese, former director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• Thomas J. Barrack Jr., Lebanese, businessman and founder of Colony Capital

Arts and entertainment

• Sam Esmail, Egyptian, screenwriter, director and producer; creator of the television series Mr. Robot
• Kevin Hanna, Syrian, writer, director and producer; creator of the film The Clockwork Girl
• Callie Khouri, Lebanese, Academy Award-winning screenwriter
• William Peter Blatty, Lebanese, Academy Award-winning screenwriter and writer
• Nessa Diab, Egyptian, Radio and TV personality and television host
• Sanaa Hamri, Tangier-born Moroccan, music video and movie director; her films include the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
• Moustapha Akkad, Syrian-American film producer and director
• Casey Kasem, Lebanese Druze, radio personality and voice actor, co-founder of American Top 40 franchise,^[23]
• George Noory, Lebanese,^[24] radio broadcaster of late-night paranormal-themed radio talk show Coast to Coast AM
• Mario Kassar, Beirut-born Lebanese, film producer, founder of Carolco Pictures
• Jordan Nassar, half-Palestinian, visual artist working with Palestinian embroidery
• Tom Shadyac, Lebanese, director, screenwriter and producer
• Tony Thomas, Lebanese, producer
• Jehane Noujaim, Lebanese-Egyptian,^[25] documentary film director
• Kerri Kasem, Lebanese, radio personality
• Dan Jbara, Lebanese, television and film producer
• Diane Rehm, Syrian-Lebanese, host and executive producer of The Diane Rehm Show on National Public Radio
• Elie Samaha, Zahlé-born Lebanese, film producer
• Sonya Tayeh, award-winning dancer and choreographer.
• Emile Kuri, Mexico-born Lebanese, Academy Award-winning art director
• Zaida Ben-Yusuf, UK-born Algerian, portrait photographer
• Sam Maloof, Lebanese furniture designer and woodworker
• Rima Fakih, Srifa-born Lebanese, Miss USA 2010
• Remi Kanazi, Palestinian,^[26] performance poet
• Yousef Abu-Taleb, Jordanian, actor, lonelygirl15; film producer
• Adam Saleh, Yemeni, YouTuber and singer
• Cherien Dabis, Palestinian, film director
• Yousef Erakat, Palestinian, YouTuber and actor
• Gabbie Hanna, Lebanese, comedian, actress, YouTube personality, singer
• Issa Twaimz, Palestinian, YouTuber
• Emilio Nicolás Sr., Palestinian-American television executive

Actors

• Tony Shalhoub, Lebanese,^[27] three-time Emmy Award-winning television actor on Monk
• Danny Thomas, Lebanese,^[28] Emmy Award-winning actor, founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; father of Marlo Thomas
• Marlo Thomas, Lebanese, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress
• Rami Malek, Egyptian, Emmy Award and Academy Award - winning actor for Bohemian Rhapsody
• Demián Bichir, Mexico-born Lebanese, Academy Award-nominated actor
• Vic Tayback, Syrian, two-time Golden Globe-winning actor
• Kristy McNichol, Lebanese, two-time Emmy Award-winning actress^[29]
• F. Murray Abraham, Syrian-American, Academy Award-winning actor (Amadeus)
• Tige Andrews, Syrian, Emmy-nominated actor
• Michael Ansara, Lebanon-born, actor
• Sofia Boutella, Algerian, actress, model, and Hip-hop dancer
• George Nader, Lebanese, American film and television actor.
• Jenna Dewan, Lebanese,^[30] film/TV actress (Step Up)
• Shannon Elizabeth, Syrian-Lebanese,^[31] film actress (American Pie, Scary Movie)
• Khrystyne Haje, Lebanese, actress on Head of the Class
• Teri Hatcher, Syrian, actress
• Salma Hayek, Mexico-born Lebanese, Mexican actress
• Rowan Blanchard, Syrian, actress
• Anissa Jones, Lebanese, actress, Family Affair
• Jamie Farr, Lebanese,^[32] character actor
• Catherine Keener, Lebanese, actress
• Wendie Malick, Egyptian, actress
• Alanna Masterson, half Lebanese, actress,
• Wentworth Miller, UK-born Lebanese-Syrian,^[33] actor on Prison Break
• Najee Mondalek, Lebanon-born, actor/playwright
• Kathy Najimy, Lebanese,^[34] actress
• Gregory Jbara, Lebanese, television and film actor
• Alia Shawkat, half-Iraqi, actress on Arrested Development
• James Stacy, part-Lebanese, actor
• Paola Turbay, part-Lebanese, actress
• Vince Vaughn, part-Lebanese, actor
• Amy Yasbeck, part-Lebanese, actress
• Sammy Sheik, Alexandria-born Egyptian, actor
• Omar Metwally, half-Egyptian, actor
• Waleed Zuaiter, Palestinian, actor
• Mo Gallini, half-Lebanese, actor
• Michael Nouri, half-Iraqi, actor
• Haaz Sleiman, Beirut-born Lebanese, television and film actor
• Emeraude Toubia, Canada-born part-Lebanese, actress
• Edy Ganem, half-Lebanese, actress
• Nadia Dajani, half-Palestinian, actress
• Rose Abdoo, half-Lebanese, comedian, actress
• John Kassir, American actor, voice actor and comedian
• Ramy Youssef, Egyptian, writer and star of Ramy
• Zeeko Zaki, Egyptian, actor
• Susu Tobia, Lebanese and Jordanian, American actress

Comedians

• Brian Awadis, Iraqi, YouTuber and actor
• Jerry Seinfeld, half-Syrian Jewish, stand-up comedian, actor and writer
• Dean Obeidallah, half-Palestinian, stand-up comedian, writer
• Ahmed Ahmed, Helwan-born Egyptian, actor and comedian
• Mohammed Amer, Kuwait-born Palestinian, comedian, writer, actor; Rolling Stone, Al Barnameg, Allah Made Me Funny
• Remy Munasifi, Iraqi-Lebanese, comedian also known as GoRemy
• Anwar Jibawi, Palestinian, YouTuber and comedian (Palestinian)
• Ronnie Khalil, Egyptian, stand-up comedian
• Aron Kader, half-Palestinian, stand-up comedian
• Maysoon Zayid, Palestinian, actress and comedian
• Ray Hanania, Palestinian, journalist and stand-up comedian
• Kassem G, Amman-born Jordanian-Egyptian, comedian, actor, and YouTuber
• Bassem Youssef, Egyptian, comedian, Doctor, and stand-up comedian
• Mo Amer, Palestinian, stand-up comedian, actor and writer

Reality show

• Adrienne Maloof, half-Lebanese, businesswoman, television personality, cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
• Aja (entertainer), Egyptian-Moroccan, known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race
• Farrah Abraham, part-Syrian, reality television personality, participated in 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom
• Faysal Shafaat, Pakistani, reality television personality, participated in Big Brother and The Challenge
• Laith Al-Saadi, half-Iraqi, finalist on the 10th season of The Voice (American TV series)
• Tarek El Moussa, part-Lebanese, businessman, television personality, cast member of Flip or Flop
• Tareq Salahi, half-Palestinian, television personality, appeared on The Real Housewives of D.C.

Fashion designers

• Joseph Abboud, Lebanese,^[35] menswear fashion designer and author
• Reem Acra, Beirut-born Lebanese, fashion designer
• Norma Kamali, Lebanese, fashion designer
• Rami Kashou, Palestinian, fashion designer

Models

• Gigi Hadid, half-Palestinian, supermodel and TV personality
• Bella Hadid, half-Palestinian, supermodel and TV personality
• Wafah Dufour, half-Saudi, fashion model and singer
• Jaclyn Stapp, Jordanian, beauty queen and fashion model
• Amy Fadhli, half-Iraqi, fitness model, actress and winner of the Fitness America National Champion 1996

Musicians

• Paula Abdul, half-Syrian Jewish, singer, musician, writer, actress, and television personality
• Paul Anka, Lebanese and Syrian, singer/songwriter
• Sylvain Sylvain, Syrian Jewish, rock guitarist, member of the New York Dolls
• Frank Zappa, part-Lebanese,^[36] musician
• DJ Khaled, Palestinian, hip-hop DJ, rapper, music producer
• RedOne, Tetouan-born Moroccan, producer, songwriter, music executive
• Tiffany, born Tiffany Renee Darwish, half-Lebanese, singer
• Tiny Tim (born Herbert Khaury), half-Lebanese,^[37] musician
• French Montana, Casablanca-born Moroccan, rapper
• Paul Jabara, Lebanese, actor, singer, songwriter
• Dick Dale, half-Lebanese,^[38] surf rock guitarist
• Andrew Bazzi, half-Lebanese, singer-songwriter
• Soraya, part-Lebanese, singer/songwriter
• G.E. Smith, half-Lebanese, lead guitarist in the band Hall & Oates; musical director of Saturday Night Live
• David Yazbek, half-Lebanese, songwriter and musician
• Raef Haggag Egyptian, singer
• Stephan Said, half-Iraqi, singer, musician, writer and activist
• Kareem Salama, Maghrebi, country singer-songwriter and musician
• Alissa Musto, singer/pianist
• Kurtis Mantronik, Jamaica-born half-Syrian, born Kurtis el Khaleel, remixer and producer, founding member of 1980s old school hip hop group Mantronix
• Malek Jandali, Germany-born Syrian, composer and pianist (Syrian-American)
• Ferras, half-Jordanian, singer-songwriter
• Fredwreck, Palestinian, hip hop producer
• Mohammed Fairouz, musician, composer
• Emilio Estefan, Cuba-born half Syrian-Lebanese, manager and producer of wife Gloria Estefan
• Ayad Al Adhamy, Bahraini-born, synthesizer player and multi-instrumentalist musician
• Jeff Becerra, death metal musician
• Ron Affif, half-Lebanese, jazz guitarist and musician
• Jack Barakat, Lebanese, All Time Low guitarist/songwriter
• Queen Naija, half-Yemeni, singer and songwriter
• Dave Hall, Quarter-Lebanese, singer/songwriter and composer
• Odetari, Palestinian, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer

Literature

• Khalil Gibran, Bsharri-born Lebanese, writer, poet, and member of the New York Pen League; the third-best-selling poet of all time.
• William Peter Blatty, Lebanese, writer best known for his 1971 horror novel The Exorcist
• Laila Lalami, Rabat-born Moroccan, Pulitzer Prize-nominated novelist, journalist, essayist, and professor
• Mikhail Naimy, Baskinta-born Lebanese, member of the New York Pen League; well-known works include The Book of Mirdad and a biography of Khalil Gibran
• Ameen Rihani, Syria-born Lebanese, "father of Arab American literature," member of the New York Pen League and author of The Book of Khalid, the first Arab American novel in English;
• Edward Said, Jerusalem-born Palestinian, literary theorist, thinker, and the founder of the academic field of postcolonial studies.
• Stephen Adly Guirgis, half-Egyptian, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
• Hisham Matar, Libyan, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer
• Steven Naifeh, Iran-born half-Lebanese, Pulitzer Prize-winning author
• Raymond Khoury, Beirut-born Lebanese, screenwriter and novelist, best known as the author of the 2006 New York Times bestseller The Last Templar
• Saladin Ahmed, Lebanese-Egyptian, Eisner Award-winning comic book and fantasy writer
• Ted Naifeh, comic book writer and artist.
• Stephen Karam, Lebanese, Tony Award-winning playwright and screenwriter
• Mona Simpson, half-Syrian, novelist; author of Anywhere but Here
• Elmaz Abinader, Lebanese, poet, playwright, memoirist, writer
• Diana Abu-Jaber, half-Jordanian, novelist and professor, author of Arabian Jazz and Crescent
• Nasib Arida, Homs-born Syrian, poet and writer of the Mahjar movement.
• Abd al-Masih Haddad, Homs-born Syrian, writer of the Mahjar movement and journalist
• Elia Abu Madi, Bikfaya-born Lebanese, poet, publisher and member of the New York Pen League
• Etel Adnan, Lebanon-born half-Syrian, poet, essayist, and visual artist
• Suheir Hammad, Jordan-born Palestinian, poet, playwright, artist, Tony Award winner
• Samuel John Hazo, half-Lebanese, State Poet of Pennsylvania
• Lawrence Joseph, Syrian-Lebanese, poet
• Lisa Suhair Majaj, Palestinian, poet and literary scholar
• Khaled Mattawa, Benghazi-born Libyan, poet, recipient of an Academy of American Poets award
• Claire Messud, half-Algerian, author
• Naomi Shihab Nye, half-Palestinian, poet
• Abraham Rihbany, Shweir-born Lebanese, writer on politics and religion
• Steven Salaita, Jordanian-Palestinian, expert on comparative literature and post-colonialism, writer, activist
• Ibtisam Barakat, Jerusalem-born Palestinian, award-winning writer and poet
• Reem Kassis, Jerusalem-born Palestinian, writer on food, culture and politics

Media and journalism

• Helen Thomas, Lebanese, reporter, columnist, and White House correspondent
• Hala Gorani, Syrian, journalist and anchor of CNN's International Desk; Levantine Cultural Center
• Anthony Shadid, Lebanese, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, foreign correspondent
• Hoda Kotb, Egyptian, broadcast journalist and TV host on Dateline NBC and the Today Show
• Jim Avila, half-Lebanese, correspondent for ABC News "20/20",
• Jamal Dajani, Jerusalem-born Palestinian television producer and Middle East analyst
• Paula Faris, half Lebanese^[39] television correspondent and personality
• Ray Hanania, Palestinian, award-winning journalist; Managing Editor of The Arab Daily News; President and CEO of Urban Strategies Group media and political consultants
• Diane Rehm, American public radio talk show host
• Dena Takruri, Palestinian, journalist, on-air presenter, and producer
• Fawaz Gerges, Beirut-born Lebanese, ABC analyst and regular guest on "Oprah's Anti-war series"
• Yasmeen Sami Alamiri, Iraqi, journalist, first member of the White House foreign press pool
• Susan Chira, Syrian, journalist, former New York Times editor, foreign correspondent
• Lorraine Ali, Iraqi, reporter, editor, culture writer and music critic for Newsweek
• Walid Phares, Batroun-born Lebanese, Fox News correspondent, Middle Eastern policy advisor to the 2012 Mitt Romney presidential campaign and the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign
• Paul Ajlouny, Ramallah-born Palestinian, founder of the Palestinian newspaper Al-Fajr
• Daoud Kuttab, Bethlehem-born Palestinian, award-winning journalist; Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University
• Nasser Weddady Mauritanian, activist, Director of Civil Rights Outreach at American Islamic Congress
• Mona Eltahawy, Port Said-born Egyptian, freelance journalist
• Serena Shim, Lebanese, journalist for Press TV
• Ayman Mohyeldin, Cairo-born Palestinian-Egyptian, journalist for NBC News

Military

• John Abizaid, Lebanese^[40]
• Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, Iraqi-born, specialist in the United States Army who was kidnapped by insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 23, 2006
• Florent Groberg, France-born part-Algerian
• James Jabara, Lebanese
• George Joulwan, Lebanese
• Peter Mansoor
• Michael A. Monsoor, part-Lebanese, first Arab American Medal of Honor awardee
• Ray Hanania, Palestinian, Vietnam Era Military Service, U.S. Air Force

Politics

• James Abdnor, Lebanese, U.S. Senator (R-South Dakota) (1981–1987)
• John Abizaid, Lebanese, retired general
• James Abourezk, Lebanese,^[41] U.S. Senator (D-South Dakota) (1973–1979)
• Spencer Abraham, Lebanese, U.S. Secretary of Energy (2001–2005) and U.S. Senator (R-Michigan) Secretary of Energy under Bush (1995–2001)
• Justin Amash, Syrian-Palestinian, U.S. Representative (R-Michigan) (2011–2021)
• Victor G. Atiyeh, Syrian-Lebanese, former Governor of Oregon (R) (1979–1987)
• John Baldacci, half-Lebanese, Governor of Maine (D) (2003–2011)
• Rosemary Barkett, Mexico-born Syrian, U.S. Circuit Judge and the first woman Supreme Court Justice and Chief Justice for the state of Florida
• Charles Boustany,^[42] Lebanese, U.S. Representative from Louisiana; cousin of Victoria Reggie Kennedy^[43]
• Charlie Crist, part-Lebanese, former Governor of Florida (R) (2007–2011), U.S. Congressman (D-Florida) (2017–present)
• Pat Danner, Lebanese, U.S. Congresswoman from Missouri (1993–2001)
• Brigitte Gabriel, Marjayoun-born Lebanese, pro-Israel activist and founder of the American Congress For Truth
• Philip Charles Habib, Lebanese, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Special Envoy to Ronald Reagan
• Lisa Halaby, Syrian, (a.k.a. Queen Noor), Queen-consort of Jordan and wife of King Hussein of Jordan
• Darrell Issa, half-Lebanese, U.S. Congressman (R-California) (2001–)
• Joe Jamail, Lebanese, Renown American trial lawyer and billionaire, also known as the "King of Torts"
• James Jabara, Lebanese, colonel and Korean War flying ace
• Chris John, part-Lebanese, U.S. Congressman (D-Louisiana) (1997–2005)
• George Joulwan, part-Syrian, retired general, former NATO commander-in-chief
• George Kasem, Lebanese,^[44] U.S. Congressman (D-California) (1959–1961)
• Abraham Kazen, Lebanese, U.S. Congressman (D-Texas) (1967–1985)
• Jill Kelley, Beirut-born Lebanese, global advocate and American socialite^[45]
• Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Lebanese, attorney and widow of late Senator Ted Kennedy
• Johnny Khamis, Palestinian, Council member from San Jose
• Ray LaHood, half-Lebanese, U.S. Congressman (R-Illinois) (1995–2009), U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2009–2013)
• Darin LaHood, part-Lebanese, U.S. Congressman (R-Illinois) (2015–), son of Ray Lahood
• George J. Mitchell, half-Lebanese, U.S. Senator (D-Maine) (1980–1995) US special envoy to the Middle East under the Obama administration, U.S. senator from Maine, Senate Majority Leader
• Debbie Mucarsel Powell, part-Lebanese, U.S. Representative (D-Florida) (2019–21)
• Ralph Nader, Lebanese, politician and consumer advocate, author, lecturer, and attorney, candidate for US Presidency
• Jimmy Naifeh, Lebanese, Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives (D)
• Mary Rose Oakar, Lebanese-Syrian, U.S. Congresswoman (D-Ohio) (1977–1993)
• Jeanine Pirro, Lebanese, former Westchester County District Attorney and New York Republican attorney general candidate
• Dina Powell, Cairo-born Egyptian, current U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy
• Edward Rafeedie, Palestinian, U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California
• Nick Rahall, Lebanese, U.S. Congressman (D-West Virginia) (1977–2015)
• Selwa Roosevelt, Lebanese, former Chief of Protocol of the United States and wife of the late Archibald Bulloch Roosevelt Jr., grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt
• Zainab Salbi, Baghdad-born Iraqi, co-founder and president of Women for Women International
• Donna Shalala, Lebanese, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (1993–2001), U.S. Representative (D-FL) (2019–21)
• Chris Sununu, Lebanese-Palestinian, Governor of New Hampshire (R) (2017–2025), son of Governor John H. Sununu
• John E. Sununu, Lebanese-Palestinian, U.S. Senator (R-New Hampshire) (2003–2009)
• John H. Sununu, Cuba-born Lebanese-Palestinian, Governor of New Hampshire (R) (1983–1989) and Chief of Staff to George H. W. Bush
• Rashida Tlaib, Palestinian, U.S. Congresswoman from Michigan (2016–present)
• James Zogby, half-Lebanese, founder and president of the Arab American Institute
• Hady Amr, Beirut-born Lebanese, diplomat, founding director of Brookings Doha Center (Lebanese father)

Sports

• Kareem Al Allaf (born 1998), American tennis player of Syrian descent who has played for Syria and the US
• Sarah Attar, track and field athlete (Saudi Arabian father)
• Rocco Baldelli, professional baseball player (Syrian)
• Toni Breidinger, half-Lebanese, NASCAR driver, first female Arab in the sport
• Alaa Abdelnaby, Alexandria-born Egyptian, played for Duke and five years in the NBA
• Abdel Nader, Alexandria-born Egyptian, player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA)
• Salah Mejri, Oued Melliz-born Tunisian professional basketball for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA
• Justin Abdelkader, part-Jordanian, ice hockey forward playing in the NHL
• Patrick Maroon, Lebanese, ice hockey player for the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL
• Johnny Manziel, part-Lebanese, NFL player
• Oday Aboushi, Palestinian, NFL player
• Doug Flutie, half-Lebanese, NFL player
• Drew Haddad, Jordanian, NFL player
• Gibran Hamdan, half-Palestinian, NFL QB
• Bill George, NFL player and Hall of Fame inductee.
• Jeff George, Lebanese, NFL quarterback
• John Jaha, MLB baseball player (Lebanese)
• Rich Kotite, retired NFL tight end; NFL Head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets
• Abe Mickal, Talia-born Lebanese, football player for LSU
• Matt Kalil, half-Lebanese, NFL player
• Ryan Kalil, NFL player (Lebanese father)
• Frank Kalil, former American football offensive lineman.
• Sam Khalifa, MLB baseball player (Egyptian)
• Joe Lahoud, MLB player for Boston and California (Lebanese descent)
• Mikie Mahtook, Major League Baseball outfielder (Lebanese descent)
• Skandor Akbar, former professional wrestler (Lebanese)
• Ed Farhat, Lebanese-American professional wrestler best known by his ring name The Sheik
• Adnan Al-Kaissie, former professional wrestler and manager (Iraqi)
• Armando Estrada, professional wrestler and manager ( Palestinian)
• Dina Al-Sabah, professional figure competitor (Kuwaiti descent)
• Isra Girgrah, boxer
• Sami Guediri, footballer (Algerian parents)
• Muhammad Halim, (Palestinian father)
• Naseem Hamed, commonly known as Prince Naseem or Naz, former boxer, former featherweight world champion (Yemeni parents)
• Omar Hassan, pro skateboarder^[46]
• Ahmed Kaddour, professional boxer, from NBC show The Contender (Lebanese)
• Hocine Khalfi, professional boxer, Algerian-American
• Khalid Khannouchi, athlete marathon runner (Moroccan)
• Amir Khillah, mixed martial artist and The Ultimate Fighter contestant (Egyptian)
• Justin Meram, MLS player for Columbus Crew (Chaldo-Assaryian)
• Faryd Mondragón, MLS player for Philadelphia Union (Lebanese parents)
• Omar Jarun, former professional football player (Palestinian father)
• Ramsey Nijem, (Palestinian), mixed martial artist and UFC fighter
• Bobby Rahal, half-Lebanese, former racing driver and motorsports executive
• Graham Rahal, (Lebanese ancestry)
• Mojo Rawley, professional wrestler currently signed to WWE (Palestinian and Syrian)
• Joe Robbie, former owner and founder of the NFL's Miami Dolphins
• Brandon Saad, half-Syrian, NHL player
• Soony Saad, MLS player (Lebanese descent)
• Mansoor, WWE wrestler (Saudi Arabian father)
• Robert Saleh, head coach for New York Jets NFL (Lebanese descent).
• Tarick Salmaci, professional boxer (Lebanese)
• Damien Sandow, WWE wrestler (Lebanese)
• Rony Seikaly, Beirut-born Lebanese, former NBA player, now DJ
• Adam Shaheen, tight end from Ashland (Lebanese Father)
• Omar Sheika, (Palestinian), professional boxer, four-time world title challenger
• Kelly Slater, professional surfer, shredder (Lebanese descent)
• Brian Habib, NFL player (Lebanese father)
• Omar Samhan, professional Basketball player (Egyptian father)

Others

• Naser Jason Abdo, former soldier convicted of planning an attack near Fort Hood
• Sami Al-Arian, professor guilty of conspiracy to contribute services to or for the benefit of a Specially Designated Terrorist organization (Palestinian)
• Anwar al-Awlaki, believed by US officials to be a recruiter involved in planning terrorist operations for the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda (Yemeni)
• Nihad Awad, founding executive director of largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S., the Council on American–Islamic Relations (Palestinian)
• Rosemary Barkett, federal judge and first woman Justice and Chief Justice on the Florida Supreme Court (Syrian)
• Charles Bishop, suicide by plane crash in Tampa, Florida; grandson of Syrian immigrant^[47]
• Nidal Hasan, former soldier convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting (Palestinian descent)
• Hussein Ibish, writer, journalist, advocate for Arab causes in the United States (Lebanese)
• Candice Lightner, founder of MADD (Lebanese mother)^[48]
• Edward L. Masry, lawyer (Lebanese descent)
• Rasmea Odeh, convicted of immigration fraud for concealing her arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for fatal terrorist bombing (Palestinian)^[49][50]
• Walid Rabah, publisher
• Saint Raphael of Brooklyn, first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated in North America; born Raphael Hawaweeny in Beirut of Damascene Syrian parents
• Karim Rashid (Egyptian-born)
• Zainab Salbi, co-founder and president of Women for Women International (Iraqi)
• Sirhan Sirhan, convicted murderer of Robert F. Kennedy (Palestinian with Jordanian citizenship)
• Nadya Suleman, "Octomom", father is Iraqi
• James Zogby, Arab-American civil rights activist (Arab-American Institute); brother of John (Lebanese descent)
• John Zogby, pollster for Zogby International (Lebanese descent)
• Zain Masri, technology executive

See also

• List of Iraqi Americans
• List of Lebanese Americans
• List of Palestinian Americans
• Syrian Americans
• Yemeni-American
• List of Egyptian Americans