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

Middle East: Media

region, Asia, Africa, and Europe

Videos

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Mesopotamia

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Mesopotamia

Learn about the rise and fall of ancient Mesopotamia by watching this overview.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The rise and fall of the Phoenician civilization

The rise and fall of the Phoenician civilization

Overview of the Phoenicians.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Images

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.

Middle East

Map showing the countries most commonly identified as defining the Middle East, including...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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.

Middle East including parts of Central and South Asia

Although countries in Central and South Asian are commonly excluded from maps of...

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

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.

Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

This conception of what the Middle East looks like centers largely around the Arabic-speaking...

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Aswān, Egypt: Great Temple of Ramses II

Aswān, Egypt: Great Temple of Ramses II

Statues of Ramses II at the main entrance to the Great Temple at Abu Simbel near...

Glen Allison/Getty Images

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.

Phoenician writing

A basalt relief stela of King Kilamuwa from the 9th century bce...

© Radiokafka/Dreamstime.com

The Monastery (Al-Dayr) in Petra, Jordan

The Monastery (Al-Dayr) in Petra, Jordan

One of the largest Nabataean-era monuments, the Monastery (Al-Dayr), in Petra, Jordan.

© Elizabeth Rubianes Minin

The Victory of Shah Shāpūr I at Edessa

The Victory of Shah Shāpūr I at Edessa

A carving of the Victory of Shah Shāpūr I against Roman Emperor Valerian at the site...

© Jason Edwards—The Image Bank/Getty Images

Map showing the extent of the Abbasid caliphate in the 9th century, with regions under direct Abbasid rule shaded in green, and surrounding areas under Abbasid suzerainty or controlled by other dynasties-Aghlabids of Tunisia, Idrisids of Morocco, Tahirids in the east, and the Umayyad emirate of Spain-indicated in different colors. Major cities such as Baghdad, Cairo, Mecca, and Cordoba are labeled, along with key regional boundaries.

Abbasid caliphate in the 9th century

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Thousands of Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with two minarets and city buildings in the background.

Great Mosque of Mecca

Muslim pilgrims surrounding the Kaaba (center) at the Great Mosque of Mecca, Saudi...

© ayazad/stock.adobe.com

Map of the eastern Mediterranean region during the 12th century, highlighting the crusader states: Kingdom of Jerusalem, County of Tripoli, Principality of Antioch, and County of Edessa, along with the Kingdom of Armenia (Little Armenia) and the island of Cyprus. Neighboring regions such as the Fatimid Caliphate, Emirate of Damascus, Dominion of the Atabegs, and Sultanate of Rum are also labeled. Key cities, rivers, and bodies of water like the Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Galilee, and Dead Sea are

Crusader states of the 12th century

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The mausoleum of Timur in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, features a large blue-tiled dome and ornate entrance with geometric patterns, with a tree partially shading the foreground.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan: Gūr-e Amīr

The Gūr-e Amīr (mausoleum of Timur), Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Alex Langley/Photo Researchers

Mughal emperors Jahangir, Akbar, and Shah Jahan

Mughal emperors Jahangir, Akbar, and Shah Jahan

Emperors (from left, seated) Jahangir, Akbar, and Shah Jahan are depicted with their...

Brooklyn Museum, New York, gift of the Asian Art Council in memory of Stanley J. Love, 1994.42

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, is shown in sunlight with its white marble domes and minarets reflected in a long rectangular pool in front.

Taj Mahal

The white marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his empress consort Mumtaz Mahal...

© Elanatur/Dreamstime.com

Two large eyvans with pointed arches and intricate tilework at the Imam Mosque in Isfahan, Iran, with a blue-tiled dome and minarets rising above the main entrance.

Isfahan, Iran: Masjed-e Emām

Two eyvāns of the Masjed-e Shāh (now Masjed-e Emām) of ʿAbbās I the Great...

Ray Manley/Shostal Associates

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Egyptian Pres. Gamal Abdel Nasser, 1967.

IBL/REX/Shutterstock.com

Large crowd of Egyptian protesters holding flags and signs in Cairo during the 2011 uprising, with a lion statue and tall city buildings visible in the background.

Arab Spring: Egypt

Protesters demonstrate against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo in early...

© Mohamed Elsayyed—Mohphoto/Dreamstime.com

Abraham Accords signing ceremony

Abraham Accords signing ceremony

(From left) Representatives of Bahrain, Israel, the United States, and the United...

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

Map of the Middle East highlighting countries 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, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Surrounding bodies of water such as the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean are labeled.

Middle East

Map showing the countries commonly identified as defining the Middle East.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of Afghanistan showing international boundaries in red, major cities including Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, and Mazar-e Sharif, and neighboring countries: Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China, Pakistan, and India. An inset locator map highlights Afghanistan's position within Asia.

Afghanistan

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Map of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding region showing national boundaries, major cities, and elevation zones in varying shades of brown, yellow, and green. Countries labeled include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, and neighboring parts of Africa and Iran. Major bodies of water such as the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea are shown. Capital cities are marked with dots.

Physical features of Arabia

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Political map of Cyprus showing the island divided into the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north, which is recognized only by Turkey. The map marks major cities such as Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, and Famagusta, as well as the UN Buffer Zone and two U.K. Sovereignty Base Areas. An inset locator map shows Cyprus's position in the eastern Mediterranean.

Cyprus

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Map of Egypt displaying its international boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries, including Libya, Sudan, Israel, and Jordan. The Nile River runs south to north through the country, and a small locator map shows Egypt's position in northeastern Africa and the Middle East. The map also marks the Gaza Strip and an area in the southeast with undetermined status between Egypt and Sudan.

Egypt

Political map of Egypt, showing the

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of Iran showing international boundaries, provincial boundaries, and major cities including Tehran, the national capital. Neighboring countries such as Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are labeled. The map also includes the Caspian Sea to the north and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to the south, with a locator inset highlighting Iran's position in the region.

Iran

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Political map of Iraq showing its international boundaries with Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria. Major cities such as Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, and Erbil are labeled, along with rivers and key towns. An inset locator map highlights Iraq's position within the Middle East.

Iraq

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Political map of Israel and surrounding regions, showing international boundaries, major cities, and regions including the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Golan Heights. Neighboring countries Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt are labeled, and a locator map in the corner shows Israel's position in the Middle East. The map notes that the final status of the Gaza Strip and West Bank is to be determined by Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Jordan and surrounding countries, showing international boundaries, major cities such as Amman, Irbid, and Aqaba, and neighboring nations including Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The map also features the West Bank, Golan Heights, and a small locator inset highlighting Jordan's location within the Middle East.

Jordan

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Map of Lebanon showing its national boundaries, internal administrative divisions, and major cities. Neighboring countries Israel and Syria are labeled, with the Mediterranean Sea to the west. A locator inset highlights Lebanon's position in the eastern Mediterranean region.

Lebanon

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Map of Lebanon highlighting physical features such as the Lebanon Mountains, Anti-Lebanon Mountains, Bekaa Valley, major rivers including the Litani and Orontes, and Lake Qaraoun. Key locations like Beirut, Byblos, Tyre, and Baalbek are marked. The map also shows neighboring countries Israel and Syria, the Golan Heights, and includes a small locator inset for regional context.

Physical features of Lebanon

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North Africa

North Africa

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Political map of Pakistan showing provincial boundaries, major cities, and surrounding countries including India, Afghanistan, Iran, China, and Tajikistan. The map highlights international boundaries, disputed borders, and lines of control, with a locator inset indicating Pakistan's position in Asia. Major regions such as Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir are labeled.

Pakistan

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Physical map of Pakistan highlighting major mountain ranges, hills, deserts, and river systems such as the Indus River and its tributaries. The map shows international borders with Afghanistan, Iran, India, and China, as well as disputed boundaries and lines of control in the northern regions. A locator globe in the upper left situates Pakistan within Asia. Major physical features like the Hindu Kush, Himalayas, Sulaiman Range, and Thar Desert are labeled.

Physical features of Pakistan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of Sudan showing its national boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries including Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Disputed borders and the Abyei region are marked, and a small locator map in the corner highlights Sudan's position within Africa.

Sudan

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Political map of Syria showing international boundaries, major cities, and provinces. Neighboring countries Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon are labeled, with the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The map includes a locator inset highlighting Syria's position in the Middle East.

Syria

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Political map of Turkey showing provincial boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries including Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan), Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Bodies of water such as the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea are labeled. An inset locator map highlights Turkey's position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

Turkey

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Physical map of the Arabian Desert and surrounding regions, showing elevation with color gradients, major deserts, mountain ranges, sand areas, lava fields, intermittent rivers, and international boundaries. The map covers the Arabian Peninsula, including Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, and parts of Syria, Israel, and Egypt. An inset locator map highlights the region's position within the Middle East.

Arabian Desert

The Arabian Desert.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing the Tigris and Euphrates river basin and its drainage network across Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, with color shading for elevation, major dams, canals, lakes, and boundaries with neighboring countries. The green areas indicate lower elevations along the river valleys, while higher elevations are shaded in brown and orange. A small locator map in the corner shows the basin's position within the Middle East.

Tigris and Euphrates river basin

The Tigris and Euphrates river basin and its drainage network.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Physical map of Iraq highlighting major rivers such as the Tigris and Euphrates, key lakes, mountain ranges, and deserts within the country's borders. Neighboring countries including Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria are shown. An inset locator map in the bottom left corner indicates Iraq's position within the Middle East.

physical features of Iraq

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Vertical map showing the Suez Canal in Egypt, running from Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the city of Suez on the Gulf of Suez in the south. The map highlights the canal's navigation route, adjacent drainage canals, nearby lakes such as Lake Manzala, Lake Timsah, and the Great and Little Bitter Lakes, as well as surrounding cities, railroads, and salt marshes. An inset locator map shows the canal's position within northeastern Africa and the Middle East.

Suez Canal

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Map showing the locations of prominent Neanderthal archaeological sites across Europe and the Middle East during the Late Pleistocene Age, with markers for sites such as Neander Valley, La Chapelle-aux-Saints, Spy, Krapina, Shanidar, Tabun, and others. The map also depicts areas of glacial ice cover and coastal land exposed by lower sea levels during that period.

To go to an article on a select Neanderthal site, click on a hyperlinked label.

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Map of Palestine during the Maccabean period, showing territorial expansions of the Jewish state under different rulers. The map uses color shading to indicate the original state under Judas and subsequent additions under Jonathan, Simon, John Hyrcanus, Aristobulus I, and Alexander Jannaeus, with major ancient cities and geographic features such as the Mediterranean Sea, Lake Tiberias, and the Dead Sea labeled.

Judaea under the Hasmonean dynasty

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Map of the Roman client kingdoms in the Levant during the time of Herod the Great and his sons, showing territorial divisions among Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip with different colors. The map outlines Herod's kingdom boundaries, borders fixed by Augustus in 4 BCE, and other regional boundaries, with key cities, the Mediterranean Sea, Dead Sea, and Lake Tiberias labeled.

Roman client kingdoms during the time of Herod the Great and his sons

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Map showing the Parthian Empire at its greatest extent in the 1st century BCE, shaded in green and covering much of present-day Iran, Iraq, and surrounding regions. Major ancient cities, trade routes, rivers, and neighboring territories such as Mesopotamia, Media, Persis, Sogdiana, and Armenia are labeled. The map also shows nearby bodies of water including the Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea.

Parthian empire

The Parthian empire in the 1st century bce.

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Map showing the extent of the Sasanian Empire during the reign of Shapur I, shaded in green. The empire covers parts of present-day Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf coast, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and extends westward toward the Eastern Roman Empire, with major regions and cities labeled throughout the territory.

Sāsānian empire at the time of Shāpūr I

The Sāsānian empire at the time of Shāpūr I.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing the United Nations partition plan for Palestine adopted in 1947, with areas color-coded to indicate proposed Jewish state, Arab state, and a separate Jerusalem district. The map includes key cities and regions, borders with Lebanon, Syria, Transjordan, and Egypt, and highlights the Mediterranean coast.

UN partition plan for Israel and Palestine in 1947

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Interactives

The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities

The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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