These sources provide a unique insight into the everyday lives of Arab seamen in Britain and complement information from national archives. By exploring not only the relations between the Arab seamen and the host society, but also the internal organization and dynamics of this seafaring community and the links with their country of origin, the study covers important aspects of the lives of Arab seamen in Britain that have so far been neglected.

Events on Tyneside are set in their national and international contexts. Throughout the interwar period, the Arabs - of all the coloured seamen at British ports - became the main target of a rising tide of racial hysteria. The onset of economic depression, resulting in declining employment opportunities in shipping, brought intense competition for jobs between Arabs and white seamen. The Arabs found themselves unwanted guests, and discrimination, abuse, regulation and control intensified.