Somalis of Saudi Arabia (PGID: PG011935)

The Somalis of Saudi Arabia

The Somalis of Saudi Arabia, numbering approximately 77,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a culturally rich and historically significant Cushitic ethnic group, known for their nomadic traditions, Sunni Muslim faith, and influential role in the Horn of Africa's socio-political landscape. They mostly adhere to Sunni Islam and Somali is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Somali

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Horn of Africa Peoples
Country: Saudi Arabia
People Cluster: Somali
Primary Language(s): Somali (som)
Primary Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Population: 77,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Unengaged and Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG011935
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Pray for the Somalis of Saudi Arabia

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Sunni Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

99%

Sunni Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Somali
Language Family: Afro-Asiatic

100%

Somali Speakers

Media Resources in Somali:

Films:

Title	Link
JESUS	View Film
Magdalena	View Film

2 films

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Somali:

Bible Name (Translation)	Video	Audio	Text
SIM Version		✓	✓
Society for International Ministries, 2008		✓	✓

2 entries

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Somali bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

Explore Lostness and Next Steps

Unengaged and Unreached

Strategic Priority Index (SPI): Unengaged and Unreached (SPI: 0), which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations among which there are no known efforts focused on establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.
Lostness Priority Index (LPI): Frontier Unreached People Group, (LPI: 0), < 0.1% Evangelical.
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity (GSEC: 1), this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years

Next steps for the Somalis:

Begin signifcant prayer and fasting for this group

Send cross-cultural teams to discover and research this people group

Begin gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group

Pray specifically for the Somalis of Saudi Arabia

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36

Pray that those who have no hope and are in need of a Savior will be comforted by the Good Shepherd, who seeks to gather the lost and weary into His care.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Psalm 25:5

Pray that the gospel will advance and that God will lead people in His truth, bringing many to salvation.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrew 4:16

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will boldly draw near to God as they approach Him in prayer, receive His mercy, and find grace for help in their time of need.

And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Luke 10:2

Ask God to send out laborers into His harvest field, raising up believers from around the world to go and proclaim the kingdom of God with those who need to hear it.

Somali Across Countries (ROP3 - 109392) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index

All

Engaged yet Unreached UUPG No Longer Unreached

CountryReligion

16 people groups

People Group ID	Name	Country	Population	Strategic Progress Index ▼	Language	Religion
PG043631	Somalis	United States	163,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG012292	Somalis	Yemen	1,245,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG011954	Somalis	Somalia	13,750,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG011790	Somalis	Kenya	3,340,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG011644	Somalis	Ethiopia	8,315,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG011486	Somalis	Djibouti	626,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG000683	Somalis	United Kingdom	143,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG000357	Somalis	Italy	13,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG050208	Somalis	Sweden	81,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG047404	Somalis	Canada	67,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG042708	Somalis	Eritrea	53,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG015040	Somalis	Tanzania	71,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG012254	Somalis	United Arab Emirates	111,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG012141	Somalis	Sudan	2,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG011935	Somalis	Saudi Arabia	77,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam
PG000434	Somalis	Netherlands	41,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Somali	Sunni Islam

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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