9 foreigners we think were Arabs in another life

Many Lebanese genuinely felt sad when British ambassador Tom Fletcher made >his dramatic farewell to their country in 2015. His open letter titled "So...Yalla, Bye" went viral in the country.

"People will look back at what we have come through and ask how Lebanon survived? But we already know the answer: never underestimate the most resilient people on the planet. A people that has, for millennia, beaten the odds," he wrote.

"I’m finishing my time as an Ambassador to Lebanon, but with your permission I’ll always be an ambassador for Lebanon."

This one doesn't need much explanation. 

Lindsay Lohan basically >lives in Dubai, has been studying Arabic, reading the Quran and is even working on >a hijab fashion line. 

Wonho Chung may have parents from South Korea and Vietnam, but he was born in Saudi Arabia. He was raised speaking Arabic.

After studying in Jordan, he went on to become a stand-up comedian – speaking in Arabic – and even starred in the 2016 Kuwaiti Ramadan drama Saq Al Bamboo. Among other TV appearances, Chung hosted a travel program on Al Araby TV called Wonho Around the World.

Presently, he resides in Dubai.

Although he's American and British, Max Stanton (aka Max of Arabia) had a truly international childhood thanks to his globetrotting parents. When it came time for university, he chose the American University of Sharjah ... because why not?

According to his website, he "fell in love" with the UAE and developed a passion for the Arabic language, and specifically Khaleeji culture. He has gone on to become a well-known influencer, promoting the language and regional culture. 

The American actress has become one of the strongest international voices advocating on behalf of refugees. She has visited the Middle East on numerous occasions to shed light on the plight of Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

As U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to ban refugees from entering the U.S. earlier this year, Jolie penned> an op-ed for the New York Times, standing up for the oppressed that she has come to personally know and love.

"Refugees are men, women and children caught in the fury of war, or the cross hairs of persecution. Far from being terrorists, they are often the victims of terrorism themselves," she wrote.

The celebrity chef has definitely been open about his love for Lebanon.

Anthony Bourdain even considered naming his newborn daughter Beirut, after his visit in 2006. >In a 2016 interview with Bon Appétit Magazine, he reiterated his love for the Arab country. 

When asked: "Where should I travel now?", his response made every Beiruti feel a sense of pride. 

"Beirut. The food’s delicious, the people are awesome. It’s a party town. And everything wrong with the world is there. Hopefully, you will come back smarter about the world. You’ll understand a little more about how uninformed people are when they talk about that part of the world. You’ll come back as I did: changed and cautiously hopeful and confused in the best possible way," he said, going on to compliment the country's diversity and coexistence, as well as the incredible food. 

Will Smith did a little tour of the Arab world earlier this year, visiting Egypt and Morocco. From his Sphinx kiss >to his Moroccan dancing, it was clear that he felt right at home. 

But that's not all, Smith also has >A LOT of love for Dubai.

"My two favorite cities on earth are Dubai and Miami," Smith said in a radio interview last year.

"The way that Dubai dreams is really similar to how I dream," he said.

It's no secret that Kim Kardashian West and her family love the UAE. 

Kim Kardashian has visited Dubai on numerous occasions. She came >most recently in January, to co-host a Makeup Master Class. 

If you scan her Twitter feed, you can find tweets going all the way back to 2011 professing her love for the emirate. But beyond her love for the UAE, she has become >a real icon for many Arab women. 

The Real Madrid forward and international sporting star has gone out of his way to show compassion for Syrian and Palestinian children.

In a social media video posted in December, Ronaldo called Syrian children “the true heroes” and told them, “Don’t lose your hope.” The footballer also made a generous contribution to Save the Children that helped provide, "much-needed relief to children from Aleppo and across Syria."

Last year, Ronaldo made a young Palestinian boy's dream come true. Ahmed Dawabshah was severely burned in a firebomb attack, which killed his parents. Ronaldo and some of his team mates visited the boy to cheer him up after he spent months in recovery.