Is it permissible to prefer one woman over another for marriage based on race or origin, such as preferring a sister from the Middle East? And is it considered acceptable for a Muslim to find it difficult to marry someone of a different race due to their own origin?

There is no objection to a young man choosing to marry a girl of a specific origin, because there is nothing in Islamic law that condemns such a choice. What is condemned is preferring some people over others based on origin. The true criterion for preference is faith and piety, as Allah Almighty says: (Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you). Choosing a specific origin for marriage may be due to psychological and temperamental compatibility, and this differs from blameworthy tribalism or racism. Furthermore, choosing to marry a desired race helps in the success of the marriage and mutual understanding between the two parties. Our Islamic history is full of great examples of black-skinned individuals, such as Luqman and Bilal, which indicates that origin does not affect status or acceptance.