The Middle East is currently witnessing escalated tensions following the US-Israel-led military strikes on Iran. Several Gulf countries, like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, have been indirectly dragged into the conflict after Iran fired missiles at them. Amid the ongoing crisis, a common confusion prevails among people about the names of Middle East countries and whether they are interlinked or sovereign nations.
Why do people confuse them?
People often confuse Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Dubai as the same place. This is due to their similar culture, religion and language. While all these countries are located in the Middle East, they are not the same. Dubai is often mistaken for a country, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia are often thought to be the same due to their proximity.
What Are Middle East countries and why are they called Middle East?
The Middle East is defined as a geopolitical region located at the junction of Eurasia and Africa. It includes about 17 to 18 countries, mostly centred around Southwest Asia and Egypt. Majority of these are Muslim countries. Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the UAE, and Yemen make up the Middle East region.
The term was coined from a Eurocentric, colonial-era perspective in the early 20th century to divide Asia. It was used to describe the region between India and Europe. At that time, London was positioned as the center of the world. The Ottoman Empire was called the "Near East," China/Japan as the "Far East" and Persian Gulf as the "Middle East."
Understanding The Basic Difference
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest countries in the Middle East. It is known as the birthplace of Islam, with two holy cities, Mecca and Medina, being located there. Riyadh is the capital city, and the country has a strong oil-based economy. Saudi Arabia is ruled by a King. People in Saudi Arabia follow traditional Islamic laws and customs.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The UAE is a country made up of seven smaller states called emirates. These emirates have their own rulers. Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE. The country is famous for its modern cities, tourism, business opportunities, and tall buildings. It is also an oil-based economy. The lifestyle here is more modern than in Saudi Arabia.
Dubai
Much of the confusion is related to Dubai, which is often referred to as a country. However, it is a city and one of the seven emirates that constitute the UAE. Dubai is famous for luxury shopping, tourism, and buildings like the Burj Khalifa.