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What are the countries of the Middle East and how many? The Middle East in English: The Middle East, which in its idiomatic concept, broad and changing according to political and regional events and facts, means a political division that includes the Arab countries located in the Arabian Peninsula, and the Fertile Crescent, which starts from Iraq in the east to Egypt in the west. While it also includes four non-Arab countries: Iran, Turkey, the Israeli entity, and Cyprus.

What are the countries of the Middle East and how many?

There are 16 countries in the Middle East: Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. After learning about the map of the countries of the Middle East, this is the traditional and political definition of the countries of that region. The first use of this term was in the fifties of the nineteenth century by Britain, and then the United States of America. The Middle East also overlooks the most important waterways, such as the Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea. While it controls the most important water straits for international navigation, such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Suez Canal. [1]

Details of the Green Middle East initiative launched by the Saudi Crown Prince in 2021

The importance of the Middle East globally

After looking at what are the countries of the Middle East and how many. In fact, the Middle East has great global importance in several respects, including: [1] [2] [3]

  • Economic importance: Because of the presence of oil reserves in the Middle East, which constitutes 66% of the world’s oil reserves. While this region is the main source of oil for the major industrial countries in the United States of America, Europe, Russia, China and Japan, where it is concentrated in the Arab Gulf states, the major countries seek to supervise the region as the United States does. The abundance of labor and the consumer market.
  • Religious importance: It is no secret that the Middle East is the birthplace of the monotheistic and other religions, such as the Abrahamic, the Druze, and the Baha’i.
  • And the cultural importance: where the first human civilizations arose in the Middle East, such as the civilization of Mesopotamia, the Levant, the civilization of the ancient Egyptians and Pharaohs, the civilization of Sheba, Ma’in and Himyar in Yemen, and Nabatiyeh in the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Strategic importance: Due to the militarily and logistically important strategic location of the countries of the Middle East between them and the neighboring regions, where they played a pivotal role, as a bridge linking countries and continents in the world, ancient and modern.

Information about the countries of the Middle East and their number

By defining what the countries of the Middle East are and how many there are, we present some information about the concept of the East as follows: [1] [2] [3]

  • The concept of (Near East) corresponds to the concept of (Far East), and it refers to the countries of East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea.
  • In recent decades, the countries of the Middle East have expanded; It included countries from the African continent, such as Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, because of their political, geographical, and historical connection with the rest of the Arab world. The same geographical and political factors also contributed to the inclusion of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Middle East countries.
  • Some countries in the Middle East link two continents together. As in Turkey and Cyprus, as they link the continent of Asia with the continent of Europe, which has sparked controversy over the fact that they are considered European countries, or countries of the Middle East. In the same context, because Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are located in the north of Turkey, it is sometimes considered a country in the Middle East, or part of the continent of Asia, or Europe, or is classified as a separate international region.
  • The Middle East region overlooks the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to its south, and they form the maritime borders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the Sultanate of Oman. The Persian Gulf also forms a boundary to the central region of the Middle East, with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iran, while Afghanistan and Pakistan lie on the eastern borders of the Middle East.
  • Pakistan’s shared history with India is a factor that makes Pakistan closer to classifying it as a country in South Asia, rather than the Middle East. While the countries bordering Iran and Afghanistan, such as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, which represent the northern borders of the Middle East, are often considered with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, being located in Central Asia, within the Middle East countries.
  • The area of ​​the Middle East is estimated at about 9.9 million square kilometres, and some consider the term Middle East (rubber) largely. This is because it is unstable, and volatile with regional variables, as some countries of the Middle East fall under other names, for example: the countries of the Near East, the Far East, the countries of West Asia, the eastern Mediterranean, the Arab world, the Islamic world and others.
  • Three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are located in the Middle East: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and the Great Pyramid of Giza.
  • The Middle East in the Middle Ages, through its scholars, contributed to the development and progress of sciences, such as chemistry, medicine, algebra and geometry, astronomy and star observation. While the library of the House of Wisdom includes the first astronomical observatory in the Islamic world. It is also the first and largest public library in the world, which was built in the ninth century AD in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Middle East borders

Returning to the subject of our research, what are the countries of the Middle East and how many? It is worth noting the limitations of this area. The Middle East is bordered on the north by the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. To the northwest are the countries of Southwest Asia, and the Mediterranean. On the western side is the Red Sea. As well as from the south, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. On the southeast, it is bordered by the Sultanate of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Arabian Gulf. [2]

The geography of the 16 countries of the Middle East

The terrain varies in the countries of the Middle East, which plays a prominent role in the diversity of the climate, where the following geographical features and topographic formations: [1] [2]

  • Deserts: such as the Arabian Desert, which lies between Yemen and the Sultanate of Oman, and occupies parts of the Kingdom of Jordan, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf. Also located in the middle of the Empty Quarter desert. In addition to the Sahara Desert in the Egyptian Republic.
  • Oceans, seas, and gulfs: The Middle East overlooks many seas, gulfs, and rivers, such as the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet, and its waters are the most saline in the world. as it is considered. While the most important rivers pass through the Middle East, such as the Nile, which is the longest river in the world, the Euphrates, the Tigris, the Jordan River, the Orontes, and others. It also overlooks two important oceans: the Atlantic to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east, the Strait of Hormuz in the north of the Sultanate of Oman, the Bab al-Mandab strait in southern Yemen, the Strait of Gibraltar in Morocco, and the Strait of Tiran in Egypt.
  • Mountain ranges: they are spread in all countries of the Middle East. As the Taurus and Zagros mountain range and the Asir Mountains. As well as the great plateaus such as the plateau of Najd and Hadramawt in the Arabian Peninsula, and the Hammad in Syria.

The economy of the Middle East countries

After knowing the countries of the Middle East and their number, the countries of the Middle East vary economically in terms of poverty and resource richness. Also, the economies of some Middle Eastern countries are considered to be at the highest international levels, due to their richness in energy resources, at the forefront of which are oil and gas, whose export has reflected on the growth and prosperity of life in them. oil refining, and metallurgical industries. As well as industries based on agricultural products, such as the textile and clothing industry of cotton, canned food industries, oil extraction, dairy products, leather tanning, and livestock breeding. [2]

Countries participating in the Green Middle East Summit in Riyadh 2021

Tourism in the Middle East

After clarifying what the countries of the Middle East are and how many, we present the following are the most prominent tourist areas in the countries of the Middle East, which have global fame, as many of them were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Preservation List: [2]

  • Istanbul: which has a long cultural history, was formerly known as Constantinople, and is located in Turkey. It is classified as one of the largest and most beautiful cities in the world, and the most densely populated. Among its landmarks is the Bosphorus, the Hagia Sophia Mosque, and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
  • Jerusalem: The capital of Palestine and the oldest city in the world, which is considered a pilgrimage for Muslims and Christians from around the world because of its religious importance, where the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Resurrection and the Church of the cradle of Christ, peace be upon him.
  • Damascus: The Syrian capital is the oldest inhabited capital, nicknamed the Jeddah of Capitals, and the capital of the Umayyad state. It is distinguished by its archaeological monuments, its seven gates, its parks and its markets.
  • Petra: built by the Nabateans in Jordan, it is called the Rose City, and one of the narrowest historical passages (the Siq) is located in it. There is also a rock safe.
  • Cairo: The Egyptian capital, especially the old city, which is famous for its narrow alleys and streets, ancient mosques, huge gates and popular markets.
  • Byblos: Lebanon is one of the oldest inhabited areas in the world. It has Phoenician, Roman, and Islamic monuments dating back to the Mamluk era, and its rural style from the Middle Ages. It is characterized by the port of Byblos and its beautiful beaches.
  • Dubai: In the UAE, the Burj Al Arab is the tallest and most beautiful in the world.
  • Riyadh: The capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the ancient and modern cities at the same time. It is full of tourist attractions, parks, towers and palaces.

Middle East and North Africa

The Middle East and North Africa region, which is written by the acronym MENA, consists of several 20 countries, sandwiched between the continents of Asia and Africa. They are: Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Djibouti. Ethiopia and Sudan are sometimes added to these countries, which have about 6% of the world’s total population. While in these countries there are 66% of the world’s oil reserves. [2] [3]

The population of the Middle East countries and how many

The population of the Middle East countries is close to one billion people. It has high population density countries such as Pakistan, Egypt, Iran and Turkey. On the other hand, countries with low population density follow him, such as Cyprus, Qatar, Bahrain and Armenia. There are also many languages ​​spoken among the countries of the Middle East, where the Arabic language, with its many dialects, is the most prevalent among the population. These are followed by Persian, Turkish, English, French, Urdu, Hebrew, Berber, Kurdish, Circassian, Armenian, Hindi, Berber, Berber, Circassian, and Kurdish. Because of the ethnic diversity of this region. While with regard to the religion most prevalent among the population is Islam, followed by Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and others. [1] [2]

Greater Middle East concept

In the context of defining what are the countries of the Middle East and how many there are, new political terms have emerged in the last decade. Including the term Greater Middle East, which was launched by the administration of US President George W. Bush on all Arab countries. In addition to Turkey, the Israeli entity, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, within the framework of a comprehensive project aimed, according to US allegations, at political, economic and social reform in this region. After the idea and objectives of the Greater and New Middle East Project were presented to the Group of Eight Industrialized Countries. The text of the Greater Middle East Project was announced in March 2004. [3]

The Green Middle East Summit kicks off in Riyadh under the chairmanship of the Crown Prince

Transformation from the Greater Middle East to the New

The US Armed Forces magazine on the countries of the Middle East and their number published a map after their supposed division. It also showed the size of geographical and regional variables in the region. Noting the complete absence of countries such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia. While the United States relied on dividing the countries of the region on the principle of sects and minorities to which they belong. To be transformed into smaller states and political entities. The American view of the Middle East finds it as a global oil reserve and a part of the Near East, and from Central Asia from Tajikistan to Mauritania, as a storehouse of global oil. It resorted to adopting a number of military, economic and political schemes in order to control it. And the overthrow of the ruling regimes in his countries that stand in the face of this project. Washington endorsed the change of the concept of the Greater Middle East, and consolidated it through creative chaos. It also includes from the countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Algeria, Sudan, Mauritania, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia. It will be the fourth project proposed by the US administration, during the reign of President Bush Jr., during his first and second terms. [3]

American motives for launching the Greater Middle East Project

By looking at what the countries of the Middle East are and how many there are, there is no doubt that the Middle East, and the Arabian Gulf in particular, is one of the most important strategic and vital regions, which throughout its history have always been a theater for the colonial ambitions of Western countries. In the following, we will present the motives that directed the US policy to launch the text of the Greater Middle East Project, in order to consolidate the so-called objectives of the New and Greater Middle East Project. We summarize it in four points: [3]

  • American values ​​and the expansionist spirit of American political thought.
  • Ensure the security of Israel, and control the oil.
  • Changing political climates, and the end of the so-called Cold War.
  • The events of September 11, 2001

From what we have previously presented in this article, through a content site, we hope that the reader will reap the benefit of knowledge, after learning about what are the countries of the Middle East and how many are there? To have even a simple idea of ​​the American plans for the future of this region of the world. Which, no matter how many justifications and justifications, its broad title remains the domination of the Middle East.

the reviewer

  • ^ britannica.com , Middle East , 30/10/2021
  • ^ worldatlas.com , Middle East , 30/10/2021
  • ^ abu.edu.iq, The Greater Middle East Project (Reading in Contemporary American Political Thought), 10/30/2021