Soccer Players
This Egyptian forward became Liverpool’s all-time leading Premier League scorer and is one of the most famous footballers in the Arab world.
Mohammed Salah
This ancient king of Egypt built many famous pyramids and is one of the most famous pharaohs in history.
Ramses
This Egyptian-born actor starred in “Lawrence of Arabia” and became one of Hollywood’s first global superstars.
Omar Sharif
This saying, often used to express patience, means “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”
الصبر مُرّ ولكن ثماره حلوة
This popular Levantine dish is made of mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon, and garlic.
Hummus
This Iranian striker once held the record for most international goals and scored over 100 times for his national team.
Ali Daei
This 7th-century Arabian religious and political leader unified much of the Arabian Peninsula and founded Islam.
Prophet Muhammad
This Pakistani activist won the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating girls’ education and surviving an attack by the Taliban.
Malala Yousafzai
This proverb warns against judging others quickly and translates roughly as: “Do not look at the container, but at what is inside.”
لا تنظر إلى الزجاجة بل إلى ما فيها
This sweet pastry made of layers of filo dough, nuts, and syrup is famous across the Middle East.
Baklava
Nicknamed “Amoory,” this UAE playmaker won AFC Player of the Year in 2016 and was known for his creativity and vision.
Omar Abdulrahman
This empire, founded by Cyrus the Great, became the largest empire the world had seen by the 5th century BCE.
Achaemenid Persian Empire
This Lebanese singer, known for her iconic voice and songs about love and Lebanon, is considered one of the greatest Arab musical legends of the 20th century.
Fairuz
This saying emphasizes honesty, meaning roughly: “The truth is like oil; it always comes to the surface.”
الحق مثل الزيت يظهر دائماً
This Middle Eastern rice dish often includes meat, nuts, and fragrant spices, and is particularly popular in the Gulf.
Kabsa
This Syrian striker is his country’s all-time leading goal scorer and spent much of his club career in the Kuwaiti league.
Firas Al-Khatib
This 1916 revolt against Ottoman rule, supported by the British during World War I, helped reshape the modern Middle East.
Arab Revolt
This Iraqi-born mathematician and astronomer worked in the 9th century and greatly influenced algebra and astronomy.
Al-Khwarizmi
This proverb teaches humility, and literally says: “The camel never sees its own hump.”
الجمل لا يرى سنامه
This fermented drink made from yogurt or milk is salty or sour and commonly served with meals in Turkey and the Levant.
Ayran or Labneh
This Iraqi captain scored the winning goal in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup final, delivering Iraq its first continental title.
Younes Mahmoud
This 1639 treaty between the Ottoman and Safavid Empires established a border that closely resembles today’s Iran–Turkey boundary.
Treaty of Zuhab
This Saudi computer scientist and entrepreneur founded one of the Middle East’s first major tech startups in the early 2000s.
Rashed Al-Mansoori
This saying refers to wasted effort and translates roughly as: “Pouring water into the sand.”
سقي الماء في الرمل
This traditional Levantine dish is made from wheat berries, pine nuts, and caramelized onions, often served as a side dish during festive occasions.
Freekeh