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Middle East
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The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities Map of the Middle East region with countries highlighted in orange, including Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, and Egypt. Surrounding bodies of water such as the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean are labeled, as are the neighboring regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Map of the Middle East highlighting countries in orange, including Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with surrounding bodies of water and neighboring regions labeled. Map of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with countries highlighted in orange, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Surrounding seas and neighboring countries are shown for geographic context.
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Mesopotamia
Aswān, Egypt: Great Temple of Ramses II Basalt relief stele of King Kilamuwa from Sam'al, Turkey, showing a robed figure beside lines of Phoenician script and an ornate symbol above the text.
The rise and fall of the Phoenician civilization
The Monastery (Al-Dayr) in Petra, Jordan The Victory of Shah Shāpūr I at Edessa
Quizzes
Tomb of Mohammed Bin Ali, Salalah, Oman.
A View of the Middle East
7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia
World Tour
The President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinale Palace (cropped out), shakes hands with the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Rome, Oct. 17, 2009. egypt protests 2011, protests in egypt 2011
Before They Were World Leaders: Middle East Edition
Relief sculpture of Assyrian (Assyrer) people in the British Museum, London, England.
Geography of the Middle East Quiz
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Middle East: References & Edit History

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    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Added discussion of the 2026 Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz. Jul 22, 2026
Added Top Question. Mar 03, 2026
Article updated. Dec 06, 2025
Added media Jul 31, 2025
Added History section. Jul 21, 2025
Media added. Jun 25, 2025
Article revised and updated. Jun 17, 2025
Add new Web site: American Meteorological Society - Journal of Climate - A Review of Drought in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. Sep 09, 2024
Add new Web site: Indiana University Bloominton - Center for the Study of the Middle East - What and Where is the Middle East? May 04, 2024
Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - Near East / Middle East. Jan 02, 2023
Corrected display issue. Feb 09, 2021
Clarified that North Africa is not included in some definitions of the Middle East. May 21, 2020
Add new Web site: UShistory.org - The Early Middle East. Jun 28, 2018
Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - The Middle East. May 31, 2018
Corrected display issue. Apr 26, 2018
Clarified details about the composition of the Middle East. Aug 14, 2014
Changed "The Sudan" to "Sudan." Aug 14, 2014
Add new Web site: How Stuff Works - Geography - Middle East. Dec 27, 2012
Add new Web site: Public Broadcasting Service - Middle East. Dec 27, 2012
Add new Web site: Lonely Planet - Middle East. Dec 27, 2012
Add new Web site: National Geographic World Music - Middle East. Jul 01, 2011
Add new Web site: Fact Monster - World - Middle East. Sep 24, 2010
Added new Web site: Prehistoric Wildlife.com - Compsognathus. Apr 17, 2009
Added new Web site: United States Naval Academy - History of Middle East. Sep 16, 2008
Added new Web site: Tour Egypt - Red Sea. Apr 16, 2007
Added new Web site: Tour Egypt - Red Sea. Apr 16, 2007
Added new Web site: Aljazeera.Net. Sep 18, 2006
Added new Web site: ArabNet. Jun 01, 2006
Added new Web site: ArabNet. Jun 01, 2006
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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