The
Middle East, as a geographic entity, comprises the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the
Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the
Persian Gulf. The countries forming the Middle East are
Turkey,
Cyprus,
Syria,
Lebanon,
Iraq,
Iran,
Israel,
Jordan,
Palestine,
Egypt,
Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait,
Yemen,
Oman,
Bahrain,
Qatar,
Abu Dhabi and
United Arab Emirates. "Middle East" is still not a completely settled term and in some documents this area can also be referred to as the Near East. Moreover, the list of countries discussed in the context of Middle East is occasionally extended due to strong cultural, economic and political relationships to include such countries as
Morocco,
Sudan,
Libya,
Tunisia,
Algeria,
Afghanistan,
Pakistan and even
Greece.
See also Levant, History of Levant, Mesopotamia.