We Are Being Seen: A New MENA Census Category

Recognition can be transformative. That’s exactly what’s happening with the U.S. government’s formal adoption of the Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) category in its federal data standards. For too long, individuals from these communities were invisible in official data, simply folded into a broad “White” category. That has changed.

In March 2024, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revised Statistical Policy Directive 15 (SPD-15), updating for the first time since 1997 how race and ethnicity are recorded in federal surveys and forms. The updates include a combined race/ethnicity question, seven co-equal categories (now including MENA), and a requirement to collect more granular subgroup data.

Previously, in the 2020 Census, respondents identifying as MENA could only do so via write-ins, mostly coded under “White,” “Some other race,” or other categories. But now, MENA is recognized as its own checkbox, a breakthrough long sought by advocacy groups like NIAC and the Arab American Institute.

Why This Matters to Businesses

Sharper Market Intelligence: Accurate demographic data enables companies to identify and cater to MENA populations more effectively, whether through targeted advertising, culturally relevant products, or tailored customer service.

True Workforce Insight: Employers can now track MENA representation across hiring, retention, and leadership, strengthening inclusion efforts and diversity reporting.

Access to Programs and Grants: MENA-owned small businesses can be identified as part of minority-focused programs. NIAC underscores chronic undercounting hampered access to growth opportunities.

Informed Public Health & Consumer Research: Disaggregated data helps better understand community-specific needs, from healthcare access to financial behavior, informing smarter strategies for outreach and services.

Regulatory Insight & Equity Compliance: MENA data improves enforcement of civil rights protections, from housing to voting access, by enabling more accurate disparity analysis.

What’s Next?

The updated standards will phase in over time, with full adoption expected across federal agencies within a few years. The 2027 American Community Survey and the 2030 Census are slated to feature the MENA category prominently.

What does this mean?

• “We Are Being Seen” is more than a slogan. It heralds a shift in visibility and economic opportunity for MENA entrepreneurs. Formal recognition opens doors similar to those already benefiting Black, Latino, Asian, and women-owned businesses. Here’s how:

• Supplier Diversity & Corporate Contracts: Corporations that prioritize certified Black, Latino, Asian, and women-owned firms can now incorporate MENA-owned businesses into their supplier diversity programs.

• Access to Grants, Loans, & Certification: As census data highlights MENA as a distinct demographic, advocacy groups can push for programs tailored to support MENA business owners.

• Influence in Policy and Procurement Goals: Clear metrics give MENA-owned businesses footing to lobby for inclusion in federal, state, and municipal contracting objectives.

• Investment & Philanthropy: Just as banks and foundations measure impact in minority-owned ventures, MENA enterprises become visible candidates for investment, whether by financial institutions, VC funds, or philanthropic organizations.

• Cultural Visibility & Market Engagement: Recognized demographics attract better product adaptation, marketing, and partnership opportunities. MENA-owned businesses bring global linkages and cross-border potential that companies can tap into.

Real Numbers Show the Stakes

• Let's put this into perspective. Recognition alone doesn’t create opportunity, it leverages it. According to SBA.Gov and govspend.com, here are some statistics:

• Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs): In fiscal year 2023, WOSBs secured approximately $30.9 billion in federal contracts. This is nearly 5% of total contracting dollars (SBA).

• Small Businesses Overall: FY2024 saw $183 billion in prime contracts awarded to small businesses making up 28.8% of all federal contracting dollars (SBA).

• Small Disadvantaged Businesses (including minority-owned): These firms received a historic $78.1 billion in FY2024 (SBA)

• Black-Owned Businesses: In FY2023, about 5,371 Black-owned businesses were awarded $9.99 billion in contracts. This is just 1.3% of the $774 billion in total federal contracts (GovSpend).

The Takeaway

Recognition via census data is only the starting block. It is a necessary step that unlocks eligibility and visibility. The real leaps to access contracts, capital, and growth depend on businesses harnessing that visibility to compete, connect, and advocate.

By being counted, MENA entrepreneurs move from the margins into the metrics that drive public policy, corporate strategy, and community investment. As we've seen with other minority and women-owned businesses, that transition can be economically transformative.

Up to now, the contributions of MENA-owned businesses have been absorbed into the broader “White” category, obscuring their true impact. The economic landscape will shift once the MENA slice is recognized as its own part of the pie. Arabs have long demonstrated remarkable strength in starting, building, and sustaining businesses, yet these talents have never been formally acknowledged. Once we are seen, the world will better recognize the powerful economic engine Arabs have built across the globe and how towns, cities, and even countries depend on local Arab-owned businesses for their vitality and survival.

In the United States, every business that meets the right qualifications can be certified through Arab Business Enterprise (ABE). With this certification, competing for local, state, and federal projects will now be categorized under MENA. ABE-certified companies will be considered for both small and large projects within their fields of expertise. As with other disadvantaged and minority groups, the costs of these projects will be tracked separately for MENA businesses and compared nationally and federally across groups.

Through ABE certification, Arab-owned businesses will gain visibility, fair representation, and enhanced opportunities. Certification not only facilitates access to projects but also enhances visibility to ensures Arab entrepreneurs are fully recognized as part of America’s diverse and dynamic business ecosystem. To learn more about ABE, please visit: https://www.arabbusinessenterprise.org/certification