Arabian Peninsula

The Arabian Peninsula lies at the intersection of three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. The region is bordered on the west by the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea, on the South by the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, on the east by the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies approximately 80 percent of the peninsula. The remainder consists of Yemen in the southwest. Oman in the east, and the small Persian Gulf monarchies of Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. The Arabian Peninsula is divided geographically into five distinct areas: mountains, coastal plains, the Nerd Plateau, the crescent of the Arabian Desert, and the Gulf lowlands.

In the earlier days, trade routes crisscrossed the desert between the oasis towns of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the population of Arabia at this time was Bedouin (desert-dwelling nomads). People who lived in towns made a living from trade, and by the sixth century, commercial centres, such as Mecca, had developed.

The region has twice in world history had a global impact. The first was in the 6th century when it became the cradle of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad received his first revelations in 610 CE. Muslims believe that God (Allah) sent the angel Gabriel to appear to Muhammad at Hira, a mountain 5km from Mecca. Muhammad preached the religion of Islam to the people of Mecca.

In mid-20th century, the discovery of vast oil deposit has propelled the economy of the region, making them them some of the richest countries in the world. Today, Saudi Arabia has the world second largest oil reserve, while Kuwait, United Arab Emirates made it to the top 10 list.

In fear for its oil longevity, United Arab Emirates stands as a shining example poised for post-oil survival, strategically moving the economy away from dependence on oil. Dubai has emerged as a cosmopolitan metropolis that has grown steadily to become a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region.