Population Size
- West Asia has an estimated population of 460 million people (2024).
- The largest country by population in the region is Egypt with over 109 million people.
Oil Reserves
- West Asia holds approximately 48% of the world’s proven oil reserves.
- Saudi Arabia alone holds around 17% of global oil reserves, with about 266 billion barrels of proven reserves.
World’s Tallest Building
- The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is the tallest building in the world at 828 meters (2,717 feet) with 163 floors.
Religious Significance
- Islam, which originated in the Middle East, is practiced by approximately 94% of the region’s population.
- Over 1.9 billion Muslims globally consider Mecca in Saudi Arabia the holiest city in Islam.
- The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia attracts over 2 million pilgrims from around the world every year.
Largest Desert
- The Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter) in Saudi Arabia is the largest continuous sand desert in the world, covering an area of 650,000 square kilometers (250,000 square miles).
GDP
- The combined GDP of West Asia is approximately $4.0 to $5.0 trillion (2023 estimates).
- Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE are the largest economies in the region, with Saudi Arabia leading at $1.06 trillion.
- The richest country per capita in the region is Qatar, with a GDP per capita of around $60,000.
Arab Spring in Syria Marks a Power Shift
The collapse of the Assad regime has far-reaching consequences. There is genuine fear that Syria could become a safe haven for extremist groups. The collapse of Assad’s regime represents a seismic shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics with far-reaching consequences. It significantly affected Russia and Iran’s influence in the region, severely weakening and disrupting Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.”
Ausaf Sayeed | Dec 10, 2024 | 5 min read
The Middle East Needs a Healing Touch
Interestingly, foreign policy issues, predominantly the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East involving Israel and Iran and its proxies—Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis—played a significant role in shaping the outcome of the US presidential elections, especially in close races. Trump actively courted the Arab and Muslim voters, mainly in Michigan, through personal community interactions, projecting himself as a ‘peacemaker’ and promising to end the war in Gaza.
Ausaf Sayeed | Nov 17, 2024 | 7 min read
Arabs of Indian Origin – A Forgotten Diaspora
In the mid-19th century, several Indian Muslim scholars and political leaders fled to the Hejaz region to escape British persecution for their participation in the 1857 revolt, often referred to as the ‘First War of Independence.’ Common surnames in Saudi Arabia for people of Indian origin include Al-Hindi / Al-Hind, Dehlavi, Malabari, Siddique, Kidwai, Faruqi, and Surati. While many non-resident Indians (NRIs) from Gulf countries have regularly received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award, only a handful of Arab nationals of Indian origin have been honoured with it.
Ausaf Sayeed | Nov 12, 2024 | 9 min read
Donald Trump’s Victory: Implications for the Middle East
Donald Trump’s return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States is poised to reshape America’s approach to the Middle East significantly. His victory has elicited a range of reactions across the region, from enthusiastic support to cautious concern, reflecting the complex dynamics at play in this volatile region.
Ausaf Sayeed | Nov 6, 2024 | 6 min read
The Mukaab – The Saudi Cube project
The Saudi Cube project, known as “The Mukaab,” is a central part of the New Murabba district in Riyadh, set to be one of the world’s largest single-built structures. Upon completion by 2030, the project will contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification, generating approximately SAR 180 billion for non-oil GDP and creating over 300,000 jobs
Ausaf Sayeed | Oct 31, 2024 | 5 min read
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