Living in the Middle East
The Middle East encompasses about ten countries and can be known as the Near East. The Middle East dates back to ancient times and artefacts from this time can be found in the local museums. The Middle East has a hot and humid climate, with minimal rainfall. It is a land covered in desert which means different types of recreational activities are available. The culture is Islamic and each country has different laws governing etiquette regarding dress and behaviour in public.
KUWAIT
Kuwait is situated at the Northeast of the Arabian Peninsula and is located on the edge of the Persian Gulf. It borders Iraq and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The name Kuwait is derived from the Arabic ‘Akwat’ the plural of ‘Kout’ meaning ‘fortress built near water’. The area of Kuwait is 20,000 square kilometres and its population is approximately 3.4 million. The capital is Kuwait city and is located near the coast. It is the 11th richest country in the world and has the worlds 5th largest oil reserves. The climate in Kuwait is hot. It is a flat and sandy country, with the highest point being 306 metres. The temperature ranges from 7 degrees Celsius in winter to 43 degrees in summer. During June and July you will get to experience dramatic sandstorms due to the north westerly wind.
Things to do in Kuwait – Explore Failaka Island, Al Jahra City, Kazhrah desert cliffs, explore the desert, play golf, go horse riding, enjoy a spa, swimming and diving, boating, explore the vast shopping malls and unique markets.
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia is a large desert country which reaches from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf and borders seven other Middle Eastern countries. It is named after the royal family that currently raines over the kingdom. The capital is Riyadh which is located in land. The area of Saudi Arabia is 2,149,690 square kilometres and is made up of thirteen provinces. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a population of 27.6 million and all its citizens practice the Islam religion by law. The economy is based around oil as they are the largest exporter in the world. The climate here is hot and humid and that is due to most of Saudi Arabia being desert which is uninhabited. The average temperature is 42 degrees Celsius, but can exceed 50 degrees. Coastal locations are cooler as the temperature there does not usually exceed 35 degrees. During winter the temperature does not get above 7 degrees and occasionally a sprinkling of snow may occur in the Southern Mountains.
Things to do in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Go on desert excursions, visit the sand dunes, scuba dive in the Red Sea, visit the amusement parks, go horse and camel riding.
BAHRAIN
Officially known as ‘The Kingdom of Bahrain’ it’s Arabic name translates to ‘Kingdom of two seas’. It is a small island country located in the Persian Gulf and is made up of 33 islands. The largest island called Bahrain is connected to the mainland by a causeway which links to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They are currently working on a causeway to connect Bahrain to Qatar, which when completed will be the largest in the world. Bahrain is known for its oil and pearl industry. The capital is Manama and the area of Bahrain is 665 square kilometres. It has a population of approximately 791,000. The climate is very hot in summer due to its flat desert plains and the winters are mild.
Things to do in Bahrain – Explore all 33 islands, take a swim in the Persian Gulf, explore the castles and mosques, visit the national museum, and explore the ancient monuments and Dilum civilization.
QATAR
Qatar, also known as the ‘State of Qatar’, is located on the north eastly coast of the peninsula. It borders the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Qatar was discovered around the 6th century BC. It is an oil and gas rich nation and has the world’s third largest gas resources. The capital is Doha which is located on the East Coast. The area of Qatar is 11,437 square kilometres and the population is approximately 1,409,1000. Most of Qatar is barren as it is low and covered in sand. Sand dunes surround the inlet to the Persian Gulf. The climate here is warm all year round with the minimum temperature in winter being 13 degrees Celsius and in summer (July – August) it can get up to 41 degrees. It is humid in Qatar and rainfall is minimal.
Things to do in Qatar – Go blokarting over the beach, enjoy camel racing and ride a camel yourself, go dune and wadi bashing, explore the capital city, try sandboarding/skiing, go shopping in the modern malls or enjoy the traditional markets, go fishing or scuba diving, learn to fly, and play golf.
OMAN
Oman is located on the Southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula and borders the United Arab Emirates, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The south coast is located on the Arabian Sea and the eastern coast is located in the Gulf of Oman. Oman was settled about five thousand years ago and is now a popular tourist destination. The capital of Oman is Muscat which is located to the Southeast of the country and looks over the Gulf of Oman. The area of Oman is 309,550 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 2,845,000. The land is largely gravel desert with desert shrub and grass, coconut palms are grown in Dhofar. The climate is very hot with the temperature reaching up to 54 degrees celsuis, but the average temperature is between 17 – 40 degrees. For the capital they get the most rain in January, while the rest of Oman gets rain during the monsoon season which is June to October.
Things to do in Oman – Relax on the stunning beaches, visit the Wadis which are lush, green oases filled with palms, grass and flowers, explore the forts, castles, towers and walls, visit the historical landmarks, try desert skiing, wander around the markets, go scuba diving, rock climbing, sand trekking, cave explore, see camel racing and ride a camel.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The United Arab Emirates are located on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula. Bordered by the Persian Gulf to the North, Saudi Arabia to the south and west and Oman and the Gulf of Oman to the east. The United Arab Emirates is comprised of seven independent Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah) that united in 1971, when the British withdrew from the area. The capital is Abu Dhabi which is located on the coast looking out across the Persian Gulf. The area of the United Arab Emirates is 83,600 square kilometres and its population is approximately 6,888,888. It is well known for its petrol and gas exporting business and is currently home to the world’s tallest building. The climate is hot and dry with the temperature reaching around 48 degrees Celsius in July and August. The weather is hot on the coastal plains, and is cooler in the mountain regions. The temperatures in winter can reach as low as 10 degrees. Rainfall is minimal here, but torrential rain can occur in the mountain regions.
Things to do in the United Arab Emirates – Go driving in the desert, take a desert safari, check out the modern malls and unique markets, Visit the world’s tallest skyscraper, visit the local museums, palaces, mosques, climb the tallest mountain in the UAE and go diving in the Persian Gulf.
