Lost in the Waves: The Forgotten Stories of Arabs on the Titanic
This April marks the anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking—an event that has captivated imaginations for over a century. The ship’s tragic sinking, the lives lost, and the survivors’ tales have been immortalized in films, books, and museums.
Yet, amid all the well-known accounts, many have been forgotten—including the stories of over 100 Arab passengers who were aboard that fateful journey.
Their names were lost, misrecorded, or erased from history, leaving their families without answers. It’s time to rediscover their stories and understand why they’ve been overlooked for so long!
A Wave of Migration Led to Arabs Traveling on the Titanic
In the early 1900s, waves of Arab migrants began heading to the United States, trying to escape poverty and unrest under Ottoman rule.
Many came from small villages in Lebanon and Syria, hoping to reunite with relatives who had already settled in cities like Detroit, Cleveland, and Pennsylvania mining towns.
The Titanic, with its promise of speed and comfort, was just another vessel in this migration journey. Yet the stories of these Arab immigrants rarely make it into history books—despite being part of one of the most iconic tragedies of the modern era.
Many Arab Families Were Torn Apart by the Iceberg
The iceberg didn’t just take lives—it tore through families. One of the most gripping stories is that of the Tu’mah family from Tibneen. As chaos unfolded on board, nine-year-old Mariyam had wandered off to watch a dance in first class.
Her mother, Hinnah, frantically searched the ship, finally finding her just in time. Thankfully, Mariyam, along with her mother and brother made it onto a lifeboat and survived.
Others weren’t as fortunate. Newlyweds Niqula and Adal Nasrallah from Zahlah were heading to a new life in the U.S. Niqula placed his wife on a lifeboat but wasn’t allowed to follow her on board. So, he spent his final moments helping others get to safety.
Finally, there’s the heartbreaking story of Betros and Zahie Khalil from Lebanon, who chose to die together rather than be separated.
Some villages like Kfar Mishki lost multiple members, turning the Titanic from a distant disaster into a deeply personal loss that echoed for generations.
Some Survivors Were Able to Rebuild Their Lives
A few survivors managed to quietly rebuild their lives in America. For instance, Adal Nasrallah gave birth to her son that same year, but unfortunately the child only survived for a few hours.
On a more positive note, some of the survivors were able to thrive after the Titanic tragedy. A great example of that is Sha’nīnah Abī Sa’b, who went on to help found the Joy Cone Company.
Mistranslation and Anglicization Erased Arab Names from History
While we know a few of the stories of Arabs on the Titanic, for many families in Syria and Lebanon, their loved ones simply disappeared. Officials mistranslated or Anglicized Arabic names on the manifests, making it impossible for relatives back home to find them on any list.
For example, common names like “Boutros” appeared as “Peter,” while “Yusuf” was changed to “Joseph,” making it difficult for families back home to match them to missing relatives. These small but significant errors left people in search of loved ones in vain.
Leila Salloum Elias Helped Uncover Many Lost Names
Researcher Leila Salloum Elias spent years tracing descendants to uncover their stories. Her work revealed not only forgotten names but also broken links between continents and generations.
Despite their real presence, Arabs only appear for a few seconds in Titanic (1997). School curriculums and museums rarely mention them either.
According to Elias, this isn’t accidental—it reflects a broader tendency to leave Arab voices out of global events. Even here, in a shared tragedy, their stories were sidelined.
Honoring the Arab Lives Lost in the Titanic Tragedy
These weren’t just passengers—they were dreamers, parents, and pioneers. Remembering their names isn’t just about setting the record straight. It’s about honoring lives that mattered and reclaiming a space in one of the world’s most well-known histories—one that belongs to them, too!
WE ALSO SAID: Don’t Miss…Hidden History: Five Ways the MENA Region Shaped the Modern World
