By Abdul Masih —
Christianity is quietly on the rise in Arab countries, according to a YouTube video.
“In regions where Islam has long been the dominant faith, Christianity is not just surviving, it’s growing,” states the Global Destinations channel.
Right after Christ’s resurrection, Christianity spread to the surrounding geographical areas, but many of those were conquered by Arabs after 630 AD and were subsequently made Muslim. Pockets of Christians remained. Today, the video says, those pockets are growing.
Lebanon
The Arab nation with the highest percentage of Christians is Lebanon, which the video says is 40%. The nation has thriving Orthodox, Armenian and Maronite churches.
Even Lebanon’s constitution vouchsafes religious plurality. In the power-sharing structure, the president, by order of the constitution, must be Maronite.
“This is a rare model in the Arab world,” the video says.
Churches, schools and universities flourish free from the scourge of persecution.
Lebanon is not completely free of the terrorism that afflicts the Middle East. The nation had a significant Hezbollah militant presence that it could not eradicate. Israel’s anti-Hezbollah operation all but obliterated the Iran-funded group.
According to estimates, Christianity is growing at a rate of 1.2% a year.
“As Christianity faces pressure elsewhere in the Middle East, Lebanon shines as a symbol of hope, resilience and spiritual continuity,” the video states.
Egypt
Egypt is home to one of the oldest churches around the world. Christianity started in Jerusalem and spread quickly to nearby regions. Christianity suffered in Egypt when Islam took over in the 7th century. Today, 5-10% of the total population is Christian, most of whom belong to the native Coptic Church.
“Coptic Christians are experiencing a quiet but meaningful resurgence,” according Global Destinations. “Egypt today is not merely a guardian of Christian tradition. It is a beacon of renewal in a region often written off as inhospitable to Christianity. In the very heart of the Arab world, Christianity is not only surviving, it is rising again, stronger and more vibrant than ever.”
Becoming a Christian in Egypt is not easy. You can be imprisoned or killed for leaving Islam. So it’s easy to understand why many will be secret Christians. Notwithstanding, Christianity is growing at a rate of 1.3% yearly, the video states.
Iraq
Like Egypt, Iraq was home to some of the first converts to Christianity and one of the oldest national churches. Before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, there were 1.5 million Christian believers belonging to Chaldean, Assyrian, Syriac Catholics and Armenian Apostolics.
ISIS decimated Christianity in Iraq. Churches were bombed, clergy were kidnapped or killed and Christian neighborhoods became ghost towns. Some 350,000 Christians survive today.
Out of the devastation of ISIS, Christianity has begun to grow at 2.5% a year, Global Destinations says.
“Iraqi Christians are symbols of resilience, refusing to let hatred define their future,” the video says. “They are reclaiming what was nearly lost. The flame of Christianity is flickering back to life.”
Syria
Before the devastating civil war, Syria was composed of 10% Christians, following Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and other Eastern Orthodox Churches. The civil war gutted the church.
But now, Christianity is “slowly but surely making a comeback,” Global destinations says. “In a region synonymous with conflict, Christianity in Syria is rising from its ashes.”
The estimated annual growth rate: 1%.
Jordan
Jordan is a gem in the Middle East because it has a huge tradition of religious tolerance. Jordanian law establishes protections for religious minorities “allowing for the Christian faith to take root and grow,” the video says.
The growth rate is estimated at 1.5% yearly.
Evangelical churches are thriving among the youth. Bible studies and outreaches grow steadily. Traditional denominations, like Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Melkite Greek Catholic, remain strong.
Christians in Jordan enjoy the unique position of not suffering persecution.
United Arab Emirates
In striking contrast to next door Saudi Arabia, the UAE allows people of all faiths to freely worship. There are churches next to temples next to mosques, all co-existing peacefully. There are 1 million Christians in the Emirates.
Businessmen and laborers from all around the world have made Christian communities swell in UAE. There’s not a historical church there so much, but rather a contemporary church. Numerous churches have been built in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Qatar
Similar to UAE, Qatar’s Christian population is mostly comprised by expatriates: professionals and laborers. Christianity is growing at an estimated rate of 2% annually.
Christian worship is allowed in a complex outside Doha called the Religious Complex in Meysameer. Catholics, Orthodox and evangelicals have their separate worship buildings. Evangelism is heavily restricted.
“Christianity is spreading not through institutional dominance, but through the lived witness of ordinary believers who carry their faith into the most unexpected corners of the Arab world,” Global Destinations asserts.
Kuwait
Expats comprise the majority of the Christian community in this oil-rich nation between Saudi Arabia and Iraq: Filipino Catholics, Indian protestants and believers from Western and African countries.
There are officially recognized churches and worship is free in religious compounds. Kuwait’s growth of Christians is estimated at 1.5%.
Tunisia
A long-held Muslim stronghold, Tunisia is gaining a small but significant Christian beachhead. Evangelicals are driving much of the growth, with Tunisian youths being drawn via technology to the attractive message of forgiveness.
Conversion from Islam is strictly forbidden, so many converts remain secret believers.
“Despite the risks, many Tunisians are seeking out the message of the gospel,” the video says. “They’re drawn by the themes of personal relationship with God and hope beyond suffering. It’s the story of individuals who quietly choose faith over fear.”
Mauritania
Following Christ in Mauritania can include a steep cost. With Islam as the official religion, Christianity is severely restricted, and following Christ can be dangerous.
“Yet even in this harsh climate, the light of faith has not been extinguished,” the video says. “Reports from 2025 show a slow but unmistakable increase of Christian conversions.” Much of the church is underground.
