Middle East: Geography, Resources, and Strategic Importance

Introduction

• Birthplace of three major religions and civilizations.
• Known for rich Islamic culture, crude oil reserves, Arab monarchs, constitutional reforms, and conflicts.
• Video covers geography, resources, and strategic global impact.

Geography

• Region Spread: Northeastern Africa and Western Asia.
• Definition: Not a continent but a geographical region term originating from the British India office in the mid-19th century.
• Countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, and Egypt.
  • Largest country: Saudi Arabia
  • Smallest country: Bahrain
• Majority Religions: Mostly Muslim-majority countries, except Israel (Jewish State).
• Greater Middle East: Sometimes includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, North African and Central Asian countries.

Water Bodies

• Mediterranean Sea: Bordered by Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine (Gaza Strip), Egypt.
• Red Sea: Bordered by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen.
• Arabian Sea: Bordered by Oman.
• Persian Gulf: Connects many countries, especially Arab states.
• Strategic Waterways: Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz are major shipping routes.

Climate

• Predominantly hot desert climate with mild, rainy winters.
• Major Rivers: Nile Delta (Egypt), River Jordan, Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia.
• Water Resources: Dependent on wadis (riverbeds) that fill during rainy seasons.

Ethnic Groups

• Large groups: Arabs, Turks, Persians, Kurds.
• Migrant populations: Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Filipinos, Indonesians, Sub-Saharan Africans.

Religions

• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam originated here.
• Judaism is the oldest, followed by Christianity and Islam.
• Islam is the dominant religion.

Economy

• Predominantly based on crude oil.
• Persian Gulf Countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Yemen.
• GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council): Intergovernmental political and economic union of Arab states on the Persian Gulf, formed in 1981.
• Monarchies: Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain (constitutional), Saudi Arabia and Oman (absolute), UAE (federal).

Strategic Importance

• Middle East remains unstable due to extremism, political turmoil, and economic interests of global powers.
• OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries): Founded by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela.
  • Headquartered in Vienna.
• Oil Production: Major producers include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, UAE, Kuwait, Oman.
• Strait of Hormuz: Critical oil transit channel; closure would spike global oil prices.
• Saudi Oil Exports:
  • Mainly via Strait of Hormuz.
  • East-west pipeline to the Red Sea for exports to Europe and North Africa.
• Suez Canal: Key route for oil and natural gas shipments to Europe and North Africa.