A full day of Arab culture, community,
business & live entertainment.
Every Thursday, AQ Foodhall brings Birmingham's Arab community, businesses, families, creatives and culture together under one roof. Start the day with coffee, conversation and community. Spend the afternoon discovering Arab businesses, fashion, perfume, oud, jewellery, art and food. Meet professionals and organisations after work. Then stay for AQ Arab Night, live music, Dabke, comedy, singers, oud, percussion, poetry, film, Arabic karaoke and more, depending on the weekly programme.
Whether you are coming to connect, trade, showcase, perform, network or simply enjoy the atmosphere, Thursday is built to feel like a recurring home for Arab culture in Birmingham.
Register Your Place
Coffee morning, marketplace, networking or Arab Night. You decide.
🔒 Your details are only used for this registration/application.
Different parts of the community, one recurring day.
AQ Arab Thursday is designed to make it easy for different parts of the community to participate across the day: families and community groups in the morning, businesses and brands in the afternoon, professionals and social audiences after work, then live culture and entertainment at night.
AQ Foodhall is positioned as an alcohol-free, community and family-friendly venue, creating a setting that can work for a broad mix of Arab families, professionals, organisers, entrepreneurs and cultural communities.
Come for one block, or stay all day.
Arab Coffee Morning & Community
Thursday begins with community. Come for Arabic coffee, breakfast gatherings, conversation and connection with community organisations, family groups, charities, older people's groups and useful support or advice services.
Arab Business, Culture & Marketplace
The afternoon is designed for Arab entrepreneurs, independent brands and cultural businesses. Expect a changing mix of entrepreneurship, networking, perfume, oud, jewellery, fashion, calligraphy, art, food, beauty, travel and market activity. If you are an Arab business, maker, trader, creative or organiser with something strong to showcase, this is one of the clearest Thursday opportunities to apply for.
Arab Social & Professional Networking
After work, Thursday shifts into a social and professional space for young professionals, business owners, community groups and people interested in Arab culture. Come to meet people, build relationships, discover businesses and stay into the evening programme.
AQ Arab Night
Thursday night becomes the cultural headline. AQ Arab Night can feature Dabke, live Arabic music, comedy, Arab singers, oud, percussion, film, poetry, Arabic karaoke, DJs and other live cultural entertainment depending on the week. The aim is to create a lively, recognisable Arab night in Birmingham that feels cultural, social and worth returning to.
Choose the Thursday experience that fits you.
- ✦Coffee morning and community
- ✦Business / cultural marketplace
- ✦Networking and social
- ✦Live music and entertainment
- ✦AQ Arab Night
- ✦Special themed Thursday event
Something that belongs on Thursday?
AQ is inviting suitable Arab businesses, community organisations, performers, cultural groups, entrepreneurs, facilitators and organisers to register interest in the recurring Thursday programme. The strongest partners will bring a clear experience, professional delivery and a willingness to actively promote their own participation.
Good-Fit Thursday Partners
What organisers commit to
Title, Thursday/date, preferred time block, audience, expected attendance, ticket/registration model and organiser contact details.
High-quality assets that accurately represent your business, performance, event, product or cultural experience.
A minimum of two creatives published for every confirmed event, performance, market slot or takeover.
Event name, Thursday date/time and a direct Book / Register / Attend CTA.
Showcases AQ Foodhall as the host venue, helping audiences understand the wider destination.
The agreed AQ registration link or QR code, so registrations and campaign performance can be tracked.
Your audience, WhatsApp groups, mailing list, community networks and social channels where available.
Traders, businesses and market partners shouldn't rely only on AQ traffic.
More than a single event slot
Thursday is structured as a recurring journey from community to business to networking to live culture. That means a business can meet customers in the afternoon and stay visible into the evening; a community group can introduce people to the wider programme; and a performer can appear in a venue where food, social activity and audience crossover are already part of the experience. The goal is to build a Thursday identity strong enough that Birmingham's Arab community knows there is always a reason to return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Thursday is AQ's recurring Arab culture, community and business day. The exact organisations, businesses, activities and entertainment change by date.
The 10am–1pm block is designed around Arab coffee, community organisations, family groups, charities, Arabic conversation and breakfast gatherings.
Yes. Suitable businesses and brands can register interest for relevant afternoon market, business or cultural activity, subject to programme fit and confirmed terms.
The 4pm–7pm block focuses on young professionals, networking, cultural conversations, fashion, food, music and community.
AQ Arab Night is the evening cultural programme, which can include Dabke, live Arabic music, comedy, singers, oud, percussion, film, poetry, Arabic karaoke and DJs.
AQ Foodhall is positioned as an alcohol-free, community and family-friendly venue.
Yes. Suitable organisations can apply to host workshops, conversations, cultural programming, community sessions or takeovers.
Organisers are expected to provide complete event information, actively promote their participation, create at least two promotional creatives including one that showcases AQ Foodhall, use the official registration route and meet all approved operational requirements.
Come for coffee. Discover a business. Meet someone new. Experience the culture. Stay for Arab Night, or bring your own idea to the programme.
See this Thursday's programme and register your place.
Host, showcase or partner with AQ on a Thursday.