West Asia
West Asia, also called the Middle East, is renowned for its ancient civilisations, major religious sites and vast oil reserves.
About West Asia
West Asia, commonly known as the Middle East or Southwest Asia, is a transcontinental region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Iranian plateau. This region includes countries such as Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, as well as the Caucasus nations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. With a population exceeding 400 million people, West Asia serves as a geographic and cultural bridge between Europe, Africa, and the rest of Asia.
West Asia is often called the "cradle of civilization" as it was home to some of humanity's earliest and most influential civilizations, including Mesopotamia (Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians), ancient Persia, and the Hittites. The region is the birthplace of three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Cities like Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina, Damascus, and Baghdad hold profound religious and historical significance. This rich heritage has left the region with countless archaeological sites, ancient cities, and cultural monuments recognized globally.
Geographically, West Asia is predominantly arid and semi-arid, featuring vast deserts including the Arabian Desert, Syrian Desert, and parts of the Iranian plateau. The region is defined by major river systems such as the Tigris-Euphrates in Mesopotamia and mountain ranges including the Zagros, Caucasus, and Taurus mountains. The climate varies from Mediterranean along coastal areas to extreme desert conditions in the interior, with limited freshwater resources making water a critical strategic concern.
Economically, West Asia holds approximately 48% of the world's proven oil reserves and 38% of natural gas reserves, making it crucial to global energy markets. The Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, have leveraged oil wealth to develop modern infrastructure and diversified economies. The region faces significant challenges including political instability, armed conflicts in several countries, sectarian tensions, water scarcity, and the need for economic diversification beyond hydrocarbon dependence. Despite these challenges, cities like Dubai, Istanbul, and Tel Aviv have emerged as important financial, commercial, and technological centers.