Armenian-Middle Eastern Relations Examined in New Book

The Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia published in late 2024 "The Armenian Communities of the Arab Countries of the Middle East: Current Trends and Transformation". 

The volume is a compilation of scholarly papers presented at a conference of the same name, held in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2023. 

Among the contributions is a paper by Dr. Hrayr Jebejian, General Secretary of the Bible Society in the Gulf, entitled “Armenian Communities in the Middle East: Challenges, Resilience, and Ties with Armenia,” which he researched, authored, and presented.

This paper examines the relationships between Armenia and its diaspora communities in the Near East—specifically in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and the UAE—through interviews with Armenians aged 35 to 67. 

The findings reveal a strong desire among these communities to maintain close ties with Armenia, despite facing unique economic, political, and social challenges. Interviewees stressed the need for greater collaboration with the Armenian Diaspora Commissioner’s office. 

The study concludes that stronger Armenia-Diaspora partnerships could bring significant educational, economic, and political benefits, and encourages further research to deepen these connections and promote collective progress.

In the section of the paper sub-titled, “Small but Active: The Armenian Community in Egypt”, the author writes that despite numbering only few thousands and mainly residing in Cairo and Alexandria, the Armenian community in Egypt remains active and committed to preserving its heritage through strong social, economic, and religious networks.