Food
This pistachio- or walnut- filled dessert originated in the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century
What is baklava?
This language is spoken in most countries of the SWANA region.
What is Arabic?
This Colombian superstar with Lebanese roots is known for hits like Hips Don’t Lie and the Waka Waka World Cup anthem
Who is Shakira?
This North African country is home to the Sahara Desert and the Nile River
What is Egypt?
This sport, now played all over the world, started in ancient Persia as a horseback game using sticks and a ball — it’s considered the ancestor of this modern game
What is polo?
A popular street food, this deep-fried fritter is made of ground chickpeas, herbs, and fava beans.
What is falafel?
The phrase “assalaamu alaikum” means this in English
What is “peace be upon you”/”hello”?
This Palestinian-American supermodel has walked for Dior, Versace, and Chanel
Who is Bella Hadid?
This ancient city in Jordan, carved into red sandstone cliffs, was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom.
What is Petra?
This North African country’s soccer team, nicknamed the “Lions of the Atlas,” made headlines at the 2022 World Cup by reaching the semifinals.
Who is Morocco?
This spice blend of dried herbs, sumac, and sesame seeds is used in many Middle Eastern dishes such as manaish.
What is za’atar?
This language, spoken in Iran, is also known as Persian
What is Farsi?
This actor was the first of Arab descent to win an Academy Award for Best Actor
Who is Rami Malek?
This body of water separates Saudi Arabia from Africa
What is the Red Sea?
This Premier League club features Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, who joined from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for £59 million.
What is Manchester City?
Maamoul, a buttery, shortbread-style cookie, is often filled with this fruit.
What are dates?
Most Arabic words are built from this many letters in their root
What is three?
This Egyptian-American comedian created and starred in a Hulu series about faith, identity, and life as a first-generation Muslim
Who is Rami Youssef?
The capital city of Lebanon is best known for its vibrant culture and Mediterranean coastline
What is Beirut?
This traditional Levantine dance, often performed at weddings and celebrations, can also be turned into a competitive “team” sport where participants synchronize stomps and jumps.
What is Dabke?
This term is used to refer to a selection of small dishes served as appetizers, meaning “taste”
What is meze?
The Armenian phrase “paree looys” is said at this time of day.
What is morning?
This Palestinian-American comedian stars in the Netflix show Mo, loosely based on his life growing up as a refugee in Houston
Who is Mohammed Amer?
This famous Christian city is renowned for centuries-old olive trees, some over 1,000 years old, and produces olive oil considered among the highest quality in the Middle East.
What is Bethlehem?
This Middle Eastern country has a long tradition of camel racing, which is considered both a sport and a cultural festival.
What is the UAE?