 Most of the Muslims are from Syria and Mozambique.The Muslim population in Portugal also have an Islamic school in Palmela, named International School of Palmela which hosts students from around the globe, and brings tourism and a new spotlight to Portugal

From 711 to 1249, much of the territory of what is now Portugal (namely south of the Mondego river, but particularly in the Alentejo and the Algarve) was under Muslim control, and was called Gharb Al-Andalus (the west of Al-Andalus).The Portuguese Reconquista forced the Arabs out of Algarve in 1249.