Geography
The largest desert in North Africa
Sahara Desert
A creamy spread made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic
Hummus
This traditional Persian dance is performed at celebrations and often features spinning and intricate hand movements.
Bandari dance
The most popular sport across the MENA region, played in stadiums from Cairo to Beirut
Soccer
A popular sweet often eaten during Ramadan.
Dates
This river, the longest in the region, flows through Egypt and Sudan
Nile River
Fried chickpea balls commonly eaten in Egypt and Lebanon
Falafel
This Persian New Year festival, celebrated with dance and music, marks the beginning of spring
Nowruz
A desert-based endurance competition involving camels, common in the Arabian Peninsula
Camel racing
The city famous for its pyramids and bustling streets
Cairo
The mountain range running through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia
Atlas Mountains
Rice dish cooked with lamb, spices, and sometimes yogurt sauce, popular in Jordan
Mansaf
A Persian folk dance performed by men with swords or sticks, showcasing agility and rhythm
Tâlâvari or Sword dance
This international sporting event hosted in Doha, Qatar, in 2022 brought global attention to the Middle East
FIFA World Cup 2022
A flaky dessert made with nuts and syrup, enjoyed across the region.
Baklava
This peninsula connects the Middle East to Africa
Sinai Peninsula
A Levantine salad made with parsley, tomatoes, bulgur, and mint
tabbouleh
This traditional Lebanese folk dance is performed in a line or circle, often at weddings and celebrations
Dabke
The first Iranian female weightlifter to win a medal at the World Championships
Kimia Alizadeh
The spice often used in rice dishes to give them a bright yellow color.
saffron
The gulf separating the Arabian Peninsula from Iran, crucial for oil shipping
Persian Gulf
A rice dish from Iran flavored with saffron and often layered with meat and nuts
Tahchin
This famous Lebanese singer is known for popularizing folk songs that are often danced to in Dabke
Fairuz
A modern sport gaining traction in the Middle East, with leagues in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, featuring speed, strategy, and international competitions
Formula 1 racing
The tallest building in the Middle East
Burj Khalifa