Middle East Climate and Biomes

The creation of artificial islands in Bahrain has significantly altered the country's geography, leading to an increase in the total number of islands from 33 to 84 by 2008.

Bahrain's natural resources include oil, natural gas, and fish. However, the presence of large tankers, refineries, and distribution stations poses a threat to the country's coastline and marine life.

Desertification is a serious environmental concern in Bahrain, resulting from the degradation of limited arable land. This is exacerbated by periodic droughts and dust storms, which are major natural hazards for Bahrainis.

The Kuwaiti oil fires of 1991 created widespread environmental damage, including extensive soil contamination and the transformation of desert areas into semi-asphalt surfaces.

The Gulf War oil spills had a significant impact on Kuwait's marine resources, causing harm to the fragile marine ecosystem.

Despite the presence of oil and natural gas, Bahrain's limited arable land and vulnerability to natural hazards like droughts and dust storms pose significant challenges to its sustainability.

Bahrain is characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers, reflecting the country's geographic location in the Persian Gulf.

The King Fahd Causeway connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, highlighting the importance of infrastructure for regional connectivity.

The Dammam Aquifer is the main source of water for Bahrain and is facing increasing salinity due to overuse by agriculture and domestic sectors.

The study found that groundwater flowing from northwestern Bahrain towards southern and southeastern parts is significantly impacted by salinity.

Qatar is a peninsula country located on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia and sharing maritime borders with Bahrain and other Gulf countries.

Qatar's landscape is primarily characterized by flat, low-lying desert with rolling sand dunes in the southeast.

Qatar's main onshore oil deposits are located in the Jebel Dukhan area, while natural gas fields are offshore.

Qatar experiences mild winters and very hot summers with limited rainfall throughout the year.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in West Asia located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula.

The UAE is a federation of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as the capital and Dubai being the most populous city.

A country located on the southern Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Saudi Arabia, Oman, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Sana'a.

Located in West Asia, Iran shares borders with Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. It is the sixth-largest country in Asia.

Iran is a mountainous country with rugged ranges such as the Caucasus, Zagros, and Alborz. Mount Damavand, the highest point in Iran, is a volcano located in the Alborz range.

A country primarily situated in Anatolia in West Asia, but also includes a smaller part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe.

Yemen's estimated population is 34.7 million, mostly Arab Muslims.

Iran has a multi-ethnic population of about 86 million in an area of 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi).

Central Iran consists of the Iranian Plateau and the country is one of the world's most mountainous countries.

Officially the Republic of Türkiye, Turkey is a country located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a smaller part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe.

Iran possesses the largest natural gas reserves globally and ranks fourth in the world for oil reserves.

Iraq's economy primarily relies on the oil industry, contributing to a significant portion of its foreign exchange earnings.

Israel is recognized as the Jewish State and has a strong technology and industrial-based economy, considered the most advanced in the Middle East.

Jordan's strategic location between continents and its welcoming stance towards refugees contribute to its reputation as a politically stable region.

Kuwait's petroleum industry is a major economic driver, attracting a large foreign workforce and contributing significantly to the country's exports.

Due to its reliance on the services sector, Iran's economy and GDP are significantly influenced by the services industry.

Iraq experiences a high unemployment rate and a relatively low GDP per capita, with the public sector employing a majority of its workforce.

Israel's population predominantly identifies as Jewish, reflecting its founding purpose as a homeland for people of Jewish ethnicity.

A geographical and cultural region mainly in Western Asia.

It comprises modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, situated along the eastern Mediterranean shores.

Turkey is a transcontinental country located between Europe and Asia, covering an area of 783,562 km2 and having a population of approximately 83.4 million.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is situated along the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, encompassing an area of 83,600 km2. It has a population of around 9.7 million and a significant economy largely reliant on the oil industry.

Yemen lies on the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, covering 527,968 km2. It has a population of over 29 million, with a projected increase to 60 million by 2050 due to its young population.

The population of Turkey has been significantly affected by civil war, violence, and political instability, leading to millions of refugees and internally displaced persons.

The economy of Yemen relies heavily on the petroleum industry, accounting for 73% of its exports.

The UAE boasts one of the Middle East's largest economies with a GDP of approximately $377 billion.

The area encompassing eastern Syria, Iraq, and a small area of southwestern Iran, defined by the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, sometimes called the "land between the rivers".

The region extending south-west of Syria, along the Mediterranean Sea, and into modern-day Israel, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, including parts of southern Turkey.

Ancient languages spoken in Mesopotamia, including Sumerian, Akkadian, Amorite, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Aramaic.

A series of marshes at the southern end of the Tigris-Euphrates course, maintaining a distinct environment and culture for millennia.

The Zagros Mountains, located east of Mesopotamia, containing significant stone and timber resources.

A rich agricultural zone in Mesopotamia, with vast areas for cultivation, relying on rainfall in the north and irrigation canals in the south.

The camel, introduced around 1200 BCE, enabled the extensive use of arid zones in Saudi Arabia, marking the beginning of Arab culture in the historical record.

The influence of geography on the formation and maintenance of cultures, as seen in the Middle East's diverse environments and resource availability.