The Middle East

Country

Capital

Language

Religion

Nationality

Currency

Seaports

Islamic Republic of Iran State of Kuwait

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Republic of Yemen

Tehran

Persian

Islam

Iranian

Iranian rials Kuwaiti dinars

Saudi riyals Emirati dirhams Yemeni rials

Bandar Abbas, Kiri Kuwait City. Souk

Al Jubail, Dammam, Riyadh Dubai, Jebel Ali Aden, Hudaydah

Kuwait City
Riyadh

Arabic
Arabic

Islam
Islam

Kuwaiti
Saudi/Saudi Arabian Emirati Yemeni

Abu Dhabi Sanaa

Arabic Arabic

Islam Islam

Republic of Turkey

Ankara

Turks
Hebrew

Islam
Jews

Turks/ Turkish
Israeli

Turkish liras
New Israeli shekels

Nemrut Nay, Eregli

Ashdod, Haifa

State of Israel Jerusalem

Islamic Republic of Iran

(islamic republic)

the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band; green is the color of Islam and also represents growth, white symbolizes honesty and peace, red stands for bravery and martyrdom

colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green represents fertile fields, white stands for purity, red denotes blood on Kuwaiti swords, black signifies the defeat of the enemy

State of Kuwait
(constitutional emirate)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (monarchy)

green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side)

United Arab Emirates (federation)

the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification

the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)

Republic of Yemen (republic)

Republic of Turkey (republic)

the flag colors and designs closely resemble those on the banner of Ottoman Empire, which preceded modern-day Turkey; the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for the Turks, as well as being traditional symbols of Islam; according to legend, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors

State of Israel
(parliamentary)

white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times