MIBG

Middle East and North Africa

General Information
Name	MIBG
Native Name	MENA
Other Names
Settlement Type
Transliteration
Language 1
Type 1
Info 1
Location
Coordinates
Map
Population
Total
Density	per km²
Area
Total	15,000,000 km²
Land	km²
Water	km²
Government
Type
Leader
Time Zone
Standard	UTC
DST	UTC

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a region encompassing a diverse range of countries and cultures, primarily located in the geographical areas of the Middle East and North Africa. The term "MENA" is often used in academia, geopolitics, and economics to refer to a group of countries that share certain cultural, historical, and economic characteristics.

Geography

The MENA region covers approximately 15 million square kilometers, stretching from Morocco in the west to Iran in the east, and from Turkey in the north to Sudan in the south. The region includes a variety of landscapes, from the vast deserts of the Arabian Peninsula to the fertile river valleys of the Nile and the Tigris-Euphrates.

Countries in the MENA Region

The MENA region typically includes the following countries:

• Algeria
• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Morocco
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• Tunisia
• United Arab Emirates
• Yemen

History

The MENA region has a rich and complex history, being the cradle of several ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, and Phoenicians. It is also the birthplace of major world religions, including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

Economy

The economies of the MENA region are diverse, with some countries heavily reliant on oil and gas exports, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Kuwait, while others have more diversified economies, such as Israel and Turkey. The region is known for its significant reserves of oil and natural gas, which play a crucial role in the global energy market.

Culture

The MENA region is characterized by a rich cultural heritage, with a wide array of languages, traditions, and artistic expressions. Arabic is the most widely spoken language, but Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, and other languages are also prevalent.

Politics

The political landscape of the MENA region is complex and varied, with a mix of monarchies, republics, and other forms of government. The region has experienced significant political upheaval in recent decades, including the Arab Spring and ongoing conflicts in countries like Syria and Yemen.

Challenges

The MENA region faces several challenges, including political instability, economic diversification, water scarcity, and social issues such as unemployment and education.

Also see

• Arab World
• Gulf Cooperation Council
• Levant
• Maghreb
• Islamic World