The largest Arab country. Where do Arabs live? countries of the Arab world. History of the Arabs

The Arabic language is one of the main branches of the Semitic indigenous language, widespread throughout Western Asia and North Africa. It is distinguished by its special richness both in terms of the elaboration of grammatical forms and the number of words. After separating... ... encyclopedic Dictionary F. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

- (ASS) ruling masses political organizations in Egypt (1963-1976) and Libya (1972-1977), as well as political parties in Iraq (1964-1968), Lebanon (1980-1987) and Syria. Arab socialist union Egypt; Arab Socialist Union ... ... Wikipedia

- [Universe] n., m., ??? Morphology: (no) what? peace, what? world, (see) what? world what? the world about what? about the world and in the world; pl. what? worlds, (no) what? worlds than? worlds, (see) what? worlds than? worlds, about what? about the worlds 1. The world is everything that exists on ... Dictionary Dmitrieva

- (Arabic اللغة العربية الفصحى al luġatu l ʿarabīyatu l fuṣḥā “expressive (clear) Arabic language”, briefly (al) fuṣ ḥā, al fusha) or ALA, also, in Western Arabic studies, Modern Standard Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic or ... ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see Arab Socialist Union. Arab Socialist Union

This term has other meanings, see Arab Socialist Union. Arab Socialist Union (Libya) Logo Leader: Muammar Gaddafi Founded: June 11 ... Wikipedia

The Arabian Nightmare Genre: Romance

This article is proposed for deletion. An explanation of the reasons and a corresponding discussion can be found on the Wikipedia page: To be deleted / November 20, 2012. While the discussion process ... Wikipedia

Arab Caliphate in the 7th-10th centuries- The consequences of the Arab conquests of the 7th-8th centuries. The vast Arab state Caliphate formed as a result of the conquests was very different from the Arab state of the first years of its existence. Having no experience in managing a complex state ... ... The World History. Encyclopedia

Books

• Arab world in the digital age. Social media as a form of political activity, A. R. Shishkina, L. M. Isaev. This study is devoted to the study of the use of the latest information technologies during the anti-regime uprisings of 2011-2012. in some Arab countries. The work analyzes…
• The Arab World in the Age of the Thousand and One Nights by Edward Lane. Edward Lane created the widest panorama of life and customs in the countries of the Middle East from the Middle Ages to early XIX century. The book tells about religion, the wealth of Arabic literature and art,…

In this article, we present you full list countries where Arabic is spoken. The list includes not only those countries in which Arabic is the official language, but also those where Arabic is the second official language.

The Arab countries included in the first list are in alphabetical order. The article also includes data on gross domestic product (GDP), population and divisions for each dialect group of spoken Arabic. You will find the same data in the list of countries in which a significant part of the population speaks Arabic or whose second official language is Arabic.

List of Arab countries in alphabetical order

Jordan

Mauritania

United United Arab Emirates(UAE)

Palestine

Saudi Arabia

Syria
Tunisia

A Brief History of the Arabic Language and the Arab World

About 420 million people speak Arabic, making it the sixth most widely spoken language in the world. The word "Arab" means "nomad", and this is understandable, because the Arabic language came from nomadic tribes inhabiting the desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabic language developed in the fourth century AD from the Nabataean and Aramaic scripts. Arabic is written from right to left, the writing resembles italics, and the Arabic alphabet has 28 letters - almost like in English language. It has remained unchanged since the seventh century AD thanks to the revelations of the Prophet Muhammad recorded in the Qur'an. From the 8th century, the Arabic language began to spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, as many people began to convert to Islam. Muslims are required to pray only in Arabic. Today, the Arab world is called the region, which includes the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, and the Arabic language is official there. Arab countries differ from each other in terms of history, culture, politics and dialects.

List of Arabic-speaking countries with GDP

The combined GDP of Arabic-speaking countries is $2851 trillion. This is approximately 4% of the gross world product (GMP). Many countries in the Arab world are considered emerging market economies. The Arab world, especially the Middle East, is most notable for its oil production. Saudi Arabia ranks second in the world in terms of oil production along with Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, occupying 7th, 8th and 11th places respectively. The economies of many of these countries depend solely on oil revenues. In Qatar, the Arab state with the highest GDP growth (5.6%), oil accounts for more than 70% of total government revenue, more than 60% of gross domestic product and about 85% of export earnings. However, oil production is not the only industry in the Arab world. For example, Jordan does not have oil or other resources for energy production. Their place is taken by services, which in this country account for more than 67% of GDP. The Jordanian banking sector is one of the most powerful in the region. The Arab Bank, headquartered in the Jordanian capital Amman, is one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East. The standard of living in the countries of the Arab world is very different. Thus, Qatar has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world and is about $93.352, while Yemen has one of the lowest, equal to $1.473.

Arabic speaking frontier financial markets and least developed countries

Many Arabic-speaking countries either fall into the category of frontier financial markets or are considered Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Frontier financial markets tend to have large market opportunities and high potential for rapid growth. On the other hand, these frontier markets are often more risky than mature markets, and the lack of infrastructure can make it difficult to do business. The Arab LDCs are the Arabic-speaking countries with the lowest economic development. Countries like war-torn Syria are having their currency taken out and their economies in decline instead of growth.

It is important to note that even in these markets there are still some emerging industries and products in high demand.

The study of the economy shows that with a decrease in income, the demand for low-grade goods increases. Bus travel is an example of a low-grade product that is chosen by those whose incomes are lower. However, even in countries where the economy is in decline, the demand for some expensive goods may increase. Take, for example, armored personnel carriers. In war-torn Arab countries where security is paramount, they are in high demand.

The following is a list of the four Arab countries in this category:

The population of Arabic-speaking countries

According to 2013 data, the total population of the Arab world is estimated at 369.8 million people. This region stretches from Morocco in North Africa to Dubai in the Persian Gulf. The most populous country in the region is Egypt, while the sparsely populated country is Bahrain. Many countries in the Arab world have very high population growth rates. For example, Oman and Qatar have the highest population growth rates in the world at 9.2% and 5.65 respectively. About 90 percent of people in the Arab world consider themselves Muslims, six percent are Christians, and four percent practice other religions. Most of these people are ethnic Arabs; other major ethnic groups include Berbers and Kurds.

The following is a complete list of Arabic-speaking countries, arranged according to population:

Other Arabic speaking countries

In many countries, Arabic is either the second official language or there are significant Arabic-speaking communities. However, in all these countries, Arabic is a minority language. For example, Chad has two official languages, French and Literary Arabic, and more than 120 indigenous languages.

Arabic dialects

There are three forms of Arabic: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), Classical Arabic/Qur'anic, and Colloquial Arabic. MSA - official modern language Arab world, based on the language of the Koran. MSA is widely taught in schools and universities in Arabic-speaking countries. It is also used to varying degrees in workplaces, government and facilities. mass media throughout the Arab world.

Despite the existence of the MSA, Arabic speakers grow up speaking the dialect of the region in which they live. Each Arabic-speaking country has its own form of spoken Arabic, which differs significantly from MSA. Any one dialect of colloquial Arabic can be used in an entire region or even a country. The main dialect groups of Arabic are as follows:

Map of Arabic dialects

Gulf Arabic - Dialects of the Persian Gulf

Bahrani - Bahraini

Najdi - Najdi

Omani - Omani

Hijazi and Rashaida - Hijazi

Dhofari - Dhofari

Yemeni and Somali - Yemeni and Somali

Chadic and Shuwa - Chadic

Sudanese - Sudanese

Sa'idi - Said

Egyptian - Egyptian

Judeo-Arabic - Jewish-Arabic

Nubi - Nubian

Cypriot Arabic - Cypriot Arabic

Iraqui - Iraqi

Levantine - Levantine (Levantine)

North Mesopotanian - North Mesopotamian

Morrocan - Moroccan

Tunisian - Tunisian

Algerian - Algerian

Lybian - Libyan

Hassaniya - Moorish

Saharans - Saharan

Arab world traditionally called the Arab countries of the Middle East and some countries of North and East Africa that are members of the League of Arab States and have Arabic as the state language. To date, the Arab world has 23 countries, of which two are SADR (Saharan Arab Democratic Republic) and the State of Palestine are not recognized by all countries. Total area of ​​Arab countries, including SADR and the State of Palestine - more than 13.5 million sq. km. Population exceeded the 380 million people.

Arab countries are included in the established on March 22, 1945 international organization "League of Arab States"(LAG).

Arab countries are a territory of contrasts. GDP per capita fluctuates from 260 US dollars(in Yemen) to over 17,000 US dollars in the countries of the Persian Gulf. The leader is Saudi Arabia, the only Arab country, one of the TOP-20 largest economically developed countries in the world, its GDP is more than a quarter of the total GDP of the Arab world. Half of the Arab economy is made up of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

richest countries The region has inexhaustible reserves of oil and gas. Kuwait has the highest ranking among Arab countries- an Arab state that owns 9% of the world's oil reserves. Oil gives Kuwait about 50% of GDP, 95% of export earnings and 95% of the state budget revenue. Djibouti is on the bottom rung among the Arab countries.- an Arab state located in the Horn of Africa, with practically no natural resources and is the main trading port of Ethiopia.

social policy peculiar Arabic culture unity, traditions of helping the poor contribute to the fact that poverty in the Arab countries is not as horrendous as in some other regions of Africa. However, they also have a significant deficiency human capital. Long before the Arab Spring, the Arab countries faced employment problem for the rapidly growing young population, especially among the educated youth. Unemployment in Arab countries is 15% is the highest in the developing world.

Mass popular unrest that swept through a number of Arab countries, turned them into a hotbed of tension and escalated into uprisings, revolutions and civil wars, with thousands of victims among demonstrators and civilians, stormy political events recent in the Arab world, the "revolution of social expectations", the transition from autocracy to democracy forever changed the vector of development of the region.

In many countries of the Arab world began restructuring of political and socio-economic models which required the mobilization of the state and society to create an innovative economy as the main source of growth in the welfare of citizens. At the same time, the processes of globalization have accelerated, forcibly drawing Arab countries into the sphere of influence on them in trade, in regulating export-import mechanisms, in the field of science, technology, culture, art, in the formation of artistic tastes, and the imposition of European standards - from clothing styles to moral principles. .

Among the consequences of the Arab Spring, the active development of the credit and banking system. Bahrain is officially considered the financial capital of the Middle East, Qatar has the relevant legislation to turn it into an international financial center. The United Arab Emirates is a traditional place of concentration and movement of large cash flows. Experts of the international agency "Standard & Poor's" believe that the Islamic banking sector in the Arab region has great opportunities growth, and banks can operate without violating Islamic principles. According to experts, in the next 10 years, Islamic banks will be able to attract 40-50% of all available savings in the world market. At present, the growth rate of the Islamic financial industry reaches 15% per year, the number of institutions has reached 300, and deposit accounts - 500 billion US dollars. The largest number of Islamic financial organizations is concentrated in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.

The number of Internet users is growing. Even 10-15 years ago, only 0.6% of the inhabitants of Arab countries used the Internet. Now, according to the Internet World Status website, more than 60 million people use the Internet, which is one sixth of the region's population. The countries of the Arab world continue to actively modernize Information Technology and infrastructure as part of the strategy to develop the economy and create new jobs (Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Algeria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, etc.). Many Arab countries have begun liberalization in the telecommunications sector, although this process is still far behind the rest of the world: since financial costs are not commensurate with profits, investors are in no hurry to invest in this sector of the economy. And yet, most of the major operators cellular communication in North Africa are no longer owned by the private sector, with the exception of Algerie Telecom, whose privatization was delayed due to the global financial crisis.

The leading world powers, including Russia, have always experienced an increased interest in the Arab countries, whether it concerns history, culture, people, religion, society, state ... In the era of globalization, with political, economic and environmental issues, the countries of the Arab world are of interest to the world community from the point of view of political and economic prospects, the place for solving many political and economic, in particular, energy and raw materials, issues.

And now, although the existing cooperation between Russia and the Arab countries in the trade, economic and socio-political sphere is of little significance and inconsistent, it has serious potential and prospects.

Geographically, the Arab world covers the region from Atlantic Ocean near the northern part of East Africa to the Arabian Sea. A wide strip of the planet, including territory throughout North Africa, a large cluster in Southwest Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, is connected by Arabic.

A Semitic language related to Hebrew, spoken by citizens of the member states of the Arab States, founded in 1945 to represent the interests of Arab people and achieve political unification of the Arab countries.

The political boundaries of the Arab world have historically deviated, leaving Arabs as minorities in the non-Arab countries of the Sahel and the Horn of Africa and the Middle Eastern countries (Cyprus, Turkey and Iran). At the same time, non-Arab minorities remained in Arab countries. However, the core geography of the sea, deserts, and mountains provide strong natural boundaries for the region.

Kingdom of Bahrain

• the capital is Manama;
• the official language is Arabic.

Located in the Persian Gulf in the Bahrain archipelago, in southwestern Asia. The state is governed as a constitutional monarchy, since 2002 under the leadership of the Sunni king Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifa, whose family holds all the major political and military posts in the government. The gap between the Shiite majority and the Sunni population led to long-term tensions, periodically turning into civil disobedience.

Bahrain is one of the first countries in the Persian Gulf where oil was discovered (production began in 1932) and an oil refinery was built. The energy sector remains the backbone of the kingdom's economy, accounting for a significant share of government revenue, but the share of GDP is also declining due to earlier efforts to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons.

Failing to reach production levels like Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, Bahrain was forced to diversify its economy. This led to the kingdom becoming one of the main financial centers in the region. Transport links are being modernized, and work is underway to expand Bahrain International Airport, which is expected to enhance the country's status as a transit and logistics hub.

Iraq

• capital - Baghdad;
• official languages ​​are Arabic and Kurdish.

Once a land of great civilizations, Iraq, located in western Asia, in modern history became a field for competing forces with high level sectarian violence following the US-initiated overthrow of President Saddam Hussein in 2003. The Shia-led governments that have held power ever since have struggled to maintain order, but the country has had only brief respite.

Archaeological Sites of Samarra, Iraq

Chaos and violence prevent the recovery of an economy devastated by decades of conflict and sanctions. Iran is the third largest country in the world in terms of crude oil reserves. The economy is expected to grow slightly in 2019, but much depends on the rise and fall in oil production and the economic impact of the Islamic State (IS) insurgency. The budget deficit is constantly growing.

The main ethnic groups are Arabs and Kurds. Others are Assyrians, Turkmens, Shabakis, Yezidis, Armenians, Mandaeans, Circassians and Cavlias.

• capital - Doha;
• the official language is Arabic.

Since gaining independence in 1971, Qatar has quickly become a regional and international leader. Economic, political and Cultural Center Middle East. With a relatively small local population and significant natural gas revenues, Qatar has the highest GDP per capita in the world (about US$100,000 on average).

Until 2010, the country was mostly known internationally as the home of the Al Jazeera media network, but that all changed when Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in December 2010.

Numerous large billboard infrastructures continue to expand the construction industry. Focusing on extensive international investment, sufficient spending on significant infrastructure projects, labor migration issues and state participation in foreign and regional affairs, Qatar has made a name for itself on the international stage.

Qatar's significant oil and natural gas reserves underpin rapid economic growth.

The country is the world's fourth largest producer of dry natural gas and the largest producer of liquefied natural gas, making hydrocarbon revenues the bulk of national income.

While falling global energy prices have impacted export earnings, in recent years the economy's tight diversification has led to dividends, with non-hydrocarbon growth reaching 7.7% in 2015, compared to a 0.1% contraction for hydrocarbon growth over the same period. The country's financial sector continues to develop; Islamic banking in particular has seen significant progress.

Jordan

• capital - Amman;
• the official language is Arabic.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the heart of the Middle East, in a region often referred to as the Levant. Jordan's significance stems from its strategic location - at the crossroads of what Christians, Jews and Muslims call the Holy Land.

It shares land borders with Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria. In the south it has access to the Red Sea through the Arabian Gulf. Jordan has few natural resources, but it has played an important role in the power struggle in the Middle East. Key US ally. One of two Arab countries (together with Egypt) that has a peace agreement with Israel.

• the capital is Sana'a;
• language is Arabic.

Despite its ancient roots as a crossroads between Africa, the Middle East and Asia, the modern Republic of Yemen is a relatively young state. It was founded in 1990 as a result of the merger of North Yemen (officially the Yemeni Arab Republic) and South Yemen (officially the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen).

Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East. The ongoing conflict in the country has caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. As of 2019, about 17 million Yemenis (60 percent of the total population) are in need of any humanitarian assistance, and 7 million are severely food insecure.

(El Kuwait; Arabic).

Kuwait is a small country located in southwestern Asia, in the upper part of the Persian Gulf region, surrounded by powerful neighbors: Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran. The strategic position and huge oil reserves make Kuwait one of the richest countries in the world (5th place in GDP per capita). US ally.

A conservative state (Sheikhship) with a Sunni Muslim majority, Kuwait stands out from other monarchies in the Persian Gulf region for being the most open political system. As a member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Kuwait is arguably the most politically dynamic in the region, with tensions remaining between parliament and the cabinet, controlled by the Al-Sabah ruling family. The government is facing growing opposition calls for radical political reform.

Continuing efforts to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues, Kuwait is increasing momentum in several major infrastructure projects, which should contribute to the country's further integration into the world economy.

To visit the country is necessary.

(Beirut; Arabic).

With a high literacy rate and a traditional cash crop, Lebanon has always been an important shopping mall in the Middle East. Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria, Lebanon is the smallest country in the Middle East. But, despite its compact size, throughout its history it has played an important role in regional politics and security. Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Christians and Druze represent the main populations in a country that has always been a refuge for the region's minorities.

After years of political turmoil, Lebanon has regained its former reputation as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" and is emerging as an important international destination for both leisure and business. Primordial natural beauty, beautiful mountain and sea resorts, excellent weather conditions, great food, European architecture, exciting night life, casinos, international hotels attract wealthy travelers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.

If you plan to visit the country and stay there for more than 30 days, then you must.

(Abu Dhabi; Arabic).

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) - a federation of seven emirates - is one of the most important economic centers of the Middle East. Before oil was discovered in the 1950s, the UAE's economy depended on fishing and pearling. The UAE has diversified and has become a regional trade and tourism hub. UAE companies have invested heavily in foreign countries.

Despite traditional conservatism, the UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Persian Gulf. However, politically they remain an authoritarian state. Federal absolute monarchy. The two most famous emirates are cosmopolitan Dubai and oil-rich Abu Dhabi.

In recent years, both have played a key role in managing trade and investment between the region and the rest of the world. Lesser known emirates are Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Although in Lately they also become important trading centers.

Relations with neighboring Iran remain strained due to the ongoing territorial dispute over the Persian Gulf islands. The UAE was one of three countries that recognized Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

Oman

(Muscat; Arabic).

Located in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is the only member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf located outside the Gulf itself (at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula). Using its strategic position, it has invested in infrastructure with the aim of becoming a global logistics hub.

The country has fewer hydrocarbon reserves than the neighboring Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and efforts have been made to diversify the sultanate, becoming driving force economic growth. The long-term development strategy, Oman Vision 2020, emphasizes industrialization, privatization and omanization. Logistics, tourism, mining, fisheries and industrial production identified as potential future economic factors and are the focus of development in the framework of the 2040 vision.

oldest independent state in the Arab world, Oman is one of the most traditional countries in the region. Oman has not been immune to political dissent in the region. Protests in 2011 demanding reforms were broken up by police, and the following year the government began cracking down on online criticism.

Those wishing to travel to the country must.

Saudi Arabia

(Riyadh; Arabic).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the main players in the Arab world. Authority is built on geographical dimensions, prestige as the birthplace of Islam and the status of a colossus as an oil producer. It is distinguished by the support of the puritanical version of Sunni Islam, which welcomes severe punishments, executions (public beheadings), and the oppression of women. it just doesn't come out.

State of Palestine

• the capital is Ramallah;
• language is Arabic.

Sovereign de jure state in the Middle East. the West Bank - bordering Israel and Jordan - and the Gaza Strip - bordering Israel and Egypt - with East Jerusalem as the designated capital, although the administrative center is located in Ramallah. The Palestinians seek self-determination but have achieved only limited control over their territories. The economy is fragmented and subject to Israeli restrictions. A significant part of the population depends on international food aid.

The Palestinian population - about ten or eleven million people - is divided between historical Palestine and the diaspora in neighboring Arab countries. Efforts to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza on the Mediterranean coast have been thwarted by ongoing conflict with Israel and disputes over the status of diaspora Palestinians.

The war that followed the Israeli declaration of independence in 1948 saw the former British Mandate of Palestine divided among Israel, Trans-Jordan and Egypt. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced to leave their homeland during the war - the Palestinian Exodus, which they call the "Nakba" ("catastrophe").

Syria

The capital is Damascus.

Once the center of the Islamic Caliphate, Syria occupied territory that had been invaded for centuries, from the Romans and Mongols to the Crusaders and the Turks. land of fertile plains, high mountains and a desert inhabited by various ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shiites and Arab Sunnis, the latter of whom make up the majority of the Muslim population.

Modern Syria gained independence from France in 1946, but has experienced periods of political instability due to the conflicting interests of these various groups.
Since 2011, political power held by a small elite has been contested in a violent civil conflict, initially sparked by the Arab Spring, which has evolved into a complex war involving regional and international powers.

Algeria's national commitment to pan-Arabism and the Arab world in the Middle East and North Africa has led to an active role in the region. He joined the League of Arab States (LAS) immediately after the declaration of national independence in 1962.

To leave for Algeria is necessary.

Djibouti

• the capital is Djibouti;
• languages ​​- Arabic, French.

Located on the northeast coast of Africa, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Djibouti - officially the Republic of Djibouti - is washed by the Gulf of Aden in the east, bordering Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Due to its geographic location, Djibouti is of significant geopolitical interest, controlling access to and access to the main waterway - the Red Sea and one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, the Suez Canal. Djibouti was under the protectorate of France (first a colony, then an overseas territory) until 1977. Supports foreign military presence: In 2002, the United States of America established the largest American military base in Africa (Camp Lemonnier) in Djibouti.

The seaport is the main source of the economy, providing the most great source income and employment. As for metals and minerals, there are some deposits of gold, granite, limestone and marble. Djibouti is also looking to harness its significant geothermal resources to meet domestic energy demand.

• capital - Cairo;
• language is Arabic.

illustrious ancient civilization Egypt - the largest Arab country - plays central role in Middle East politics and in the modern era. Egypt's major cities and almost all agricultural activity are concentrated along the banks and the Nile Delta. Most countries occupy deserts.

The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, tourism and remittances from Egyptians working abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. However, rapid population growth and limited arable land drain the resources of the country and the economy, and political instability often paralyzes government efforts to resolve problems.

Egypt's great past and the fact that it was one of the first countries in the Middle East to open up Western world after the invasion of Napoleon, gives him the right to claim the role of intellectual and cultural leader in the region. Al-Azhar Mosque ( The Mosque of the Most Radiant) in Cairo is a symbol of Islamic Egypt and highly revered in the Sunni Muslim world.

The Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), declared by the Polisario Front in 1976, is now recognized by many governments and is a full member of the African Union. A buffer zone with landmines and fortifications runs the length of the disputed territory and separates the western part of Morocco from the eastern area controlled by the Polisario Front.

In addition to phosphate reserves and rich fishing grounds off the coast, Western Sahara is believed to have offshore oil fields.

Libya

• the capital is Tripoli;
• language is Arabic.

Libya, located in northern Africa, in the Maghreb region, is a mostly desert, oil-rich country with an ancient history. Washed in the north mediterranean sea, borders on Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria and Tunisia. In modern history, it is known for the 42-year rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and the chaos that followed his overthrow in 2011 as a result of an armed insurgency with the assistance of Western military intervention. In recent years, Libya has been a key springboard for migrants heading to Europe.

There are serious concerns about the growth of Islamist militancy. The Libyan economy continues to shrink. Inflow of direct foreign investment almost stopped, unemployment rose sharply. The current account deficit was almost half of GDP in 2017, while exports fell sharply. Crude oil production has been declining since 2013. In the next few years, the economy may recover, but this is to a large extent depends on a stable government and improved security.

To travel to Libya, foreigners need