Thank you! Since my culture (Pakistani) is fairly similar to Middle Eastern culture in terms of values, I might be able to offer some insight. All of this is personal anecdotes and experience, of course no two guys are the same.

For me and many of my friends, not following your parents wishes can result in disownment, or at the least, severe disapproval which is really, really uncommon. I don't think many Arab kids will go against their parents' values. That's just the way they're raised, same with Pakistanis. There's a huge underlying factor of the "shame" and "disrespect" it brings upon the family and even though he could have cared deeply for you or loved you, if he wasn't madly in love with you and willing to "give up his whole life for you", it wouldn't have been a sacrifice he would make.

I know it hurts, but don't take it personally. Crossing your parents like that is huge and rarely seen from "Good Arab kids." It's almost unthinkable. And with everything I've seen growing up with so many Middle Easterners, the family/ friends interference/ disapproval with mixed race dating can kill the relationship even if he tried to get you accepted by his parents.

I'm not sure if your FWB is Muslim or Christian or some minority (I'll assume Muslim) but I've also witnessed so much disapproval from even friends that are modernized/ westernized/ your typical guy for dating non Muslims. Also just the way the boys are raised man.

This could be unique to the Arabs I grew up with but it almost feels like they're raised to think they're the best. Just the way they carry themselves, present themselves, boast about themselves, ya know?

There's a lot of specific examples I've seen but I also think that a large part of the disparity of marrying outside of the Middle East even if they're a Muslim marrying another non- Arab Muslim is caused by their upbringing of seeing Arabs as being the best race.