Best Middle East
The Arabian Desert is an arid region that occupies nearly the entirety of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It covers an area of approximately 2.3 million square kilometers across multiple countries. The desert's interior contains the Rub' al Khali, or Empty Quarter, which is recognized as the...
The Mesopotamian Marshes are a vast wetland ecosystem located in southern Iraq at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Once severely drained in the late 20th century, the marshes have been the focus of significant ecological restoration efforts. They provide a habitat for diverse bird...
The Israel-Palestine conflict represents a protracted geopolitical rivalry stemming from competing national aspirations and territorial disputes. Beginning with the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it remains a central issue in the Middle East. The dispute involves claims to land within the Levant region impa...
The Euphrates River is a major waterway originating in Turkey and flowing through Syria and Iraq. It’s notable for its historical significance as the primary water source for ancient Mesopotamia, supporting extensive agriculture and civilization along its course. The river continues to be vital for...
Wadi Rum is a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. The landscape is dominated by towering sandstone and granite rock formations rising from a sandy valley floor. The area has been inhabited by human cultures since prehistoric times and fe...
The Tigris River is a major river in Western Asia, flowing approximately 1,850 km (1,150 miles) from the Taurus Mountains in eastern Turkey through Iraq to the Shatt al-Arab, where it joins the Euphrates before emptying into the Persian Gulf. Along with the Euphrates, the Tigris defined the region k...
The Iran-Contra Affair involved a clandestine operation during the 1980s. U.S. officials secretly sold arms to Iran in exchange for assistance with American hostages. This action circumvented legal restrictions and fueled support for anti-communist rebels (Contras) in Nicaragua. The scandal implicat...
The Leiurus hebraeus, or deathstalker scorpion, is a species of Old World scorpion found primarily in Israel and other parts of the Middle East. It’s notable for possessing one of the most potent venom among scorpions, capable of causing severe pain and potentially life-threatening symptoms. This hi...
The Persian Gulf is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean, situated between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula and connected through the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman. Its coastal states include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. The region...
Careem is a ride-sharing service operating within the Middle East. It utilizes an on-demand mobile application to connect passengers with drivers offering various transportation choices. Notably, Careem’s expansion and acquisition by Uber demonstrate its significant role in reshaping mobility soluti...
The Shuwaymis petroglyphs are an archaeological site located in the Ha'il region of Saudi Arabia, forming part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hail Rock Art. Dating back to the Neolithic period, these carvings provide significant insight into early human settlement in the Arabian Peninsula. The...
The Judaean Desert is an arid region extending eastward from the hills of Jerusalem and Hebron toward the Dead Sea, across parts of Israel and the West Bank. Its landscape includes limestone cliffs, dry river valleys, plateaus, caves, and oases created by the sharp descent toward the Jordan Rift Val...
The Jubbah Petroglyphs are an archaeological site located in the Ha'il Region of Saudi Arabia, recognized as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. The site features extensive rock carvings on sandstone formations that depict early human figures and wildlife, such as camels and cattle. Dating...
The Kingdom of Israel, also called the Northern Kingdom or Samaria, was an ancient Levantine state that emerged when the united monarchy traditionally divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah around 930 BCE. Its territory included the northern part of the former kingdom, while Jerusalem remaine...
Ancient Egyptian civilization flourished along the Nile River from approximately 3100 BC until its decline around 30 BC. This influential Middle Eastern African culture developed sophisticated systems of governance under pharaohs and is recognized for engineering achievements like pyramids and advan...
Dead Can Dance’s *Into the Labyrinth* (1993) presents a distinctive blend of Middle Eastern, European, and global influences. The album is recognized for its atmospheric soundscapes and exploration of Neopagan mythology alongside haunting vocals and instrumentation. It appeals to listeners intereste...
Arabian Sands documents Wilfred Thesiger’s remarkable journeys through the vast and unforgiving Rub' al Khali (the Empty Quarter) in the mid-20th century. The book chronicles his experiences traveling with Bedouin tribes during a period of significant political change in the Middle East. It provides...
Umm Jirsan is a significant lava tube within the Harrat Rahat volcanic field in Saudi Arabia. It represents the longest cave system documented in the Arab world based on current surveys. The site’s notable feature is the extensive collection of animal remains discovered within its complex network, o...
The Bir Hima Petroglyphs are part of the Hima Cultural Area located in the Najran province of southwestern Saudi Arabia, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. The site features thousands of rock art panels that provide a continuous historical record dating from the Neolithic p...
Lila Abu-Lughod (born 1952) is an American anthropologist known for ethnographic research on Bedouin communities in Egypt and for contributions to feminist anthropology. Her first book, Veiled Sentiments (1986), examined the poetic traditions and emotional expression of Awlad 'Ali Bedouin women, whi...
Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Al-Qaisi is a Jordanian diplomat with extensive experience in international law and human rights advocacy. He served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 2016 to 2023. Notably, he previously held the position of President of the International Criminal Court bet...
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is a Jordanian diplomat who held significant roles within the United Nations system. He served as the UN Ambassador to Jordan and later as the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a position he held with the United Nations from 2014 to 2018. His work focused on international hum...
The Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty, signed in 1979, established a formal end to decades of conflict between these nations. This bilateral agreement marked a historic shift in Middle Eastern politics as it was the first time an Arab state officially recognized Israel’s existence. The treaty facilitated di...
Peter Gabriel’s Passion, released in 1989, is a world-music album commissioned for the film *The Last Temptation of Christ*. It features extensive use of percussion and incorporates musicians from diverse Middle Eastern traditions. The project's notable collaboration with global artists and its expl...
The Achaemenid Empire, established by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC, represents one of antiquity’s largest empires. Ruling across Persia and parts of modern-day Iran, Greece, Egypt, and India, it was notable for sophisticated administration including a standardized currency and extensive road system. Da...
The Camp David Accords represent a pivotal 1978 treaty resulting from US mediation between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. This agreement produced the first Arab-Israeli peace treaty, establishing diplomatic relations between Egypt and Israel. It was notable...
19 Varieties of Gazelle is a 2002 poetry collection by the Palestinian-American author Naomi Shihab Nye. The book compiles new and selected poems that explore Middle Eastern culture, heritage, and the experiences of Arab Americans. In 2002, the collection was named a finalist for the National Book A...
The Abbasid Caliphate emerged from the overthrow of the Umayyad dynasty in 750 AD. This medieval Islamic civilization flourished for centuries, primarily centered around Baghdad. It’s notable for fostering advancements across science, mathematics, medicine, and philosophy—a period known as the Islam...
The Wadi Rum Petroglyphs are a collection of ancient rock art and inscriptions located within the Wadi Rum Protected Area in southern Jordan. This UNESCO World Heritage site features thousands of engravings on sandstone cliffs, depicting human and animal figures, hunting scenes, and ancient scripts....
The Turkish War of Independence was a military and political struggle fought from 1919 to 1923 after the Ottoman Empire's defeat in the First World War and the Allied occupation of parts of Anatolia. The nationalist movement led by Mustafa Kemal rejected the proposed partition embodied in the Treaty...
