What is the vast, sandy desert that covers much of southern Saudi Arabia?
The Rub' al-Khali (Empty Quarter)
These two rivers define the historical region of Mesopotamia.
Tigris and Euphrates
This narrow strait is a global chokepoint for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf.
Strait of Hormuz
This body of water is so salty you can float easily, and it's the lowest point on land.
The Dead Sea
The Anatolian Peninsula is the heart of which modern country?
Turkey
What is the primary export and foundation of the economy for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE?
Oil
What does the acronym OPEC stand for?
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
This process, used in wealthy Gulf states, removes salt from seawater to make it drinkable.
Desalination
Besides oil, what major resource is found in and around the Caspian Sea?
Natural Gas
Dubai has diversified its economy by becoming a global hub for this and for luxury tourism.
Finance/Banking OR Air Travel/Aviation
This city in Saudi Arabia is the holiest city in Islam and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Mecca
The majority of people in Iran are ethnically Persian and follow this branch of Islam.
Shia
In which country would you find the historic, contested city of Jerusalem, sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
Israel
What is the dominant branch of Islam in Saudi Arabia and most Gulf Arab states?
Sunni Islam
What is the term for an ethnic group without a sovereign state of their own, like the Kurds?
A Stateless Nation
What type of government does Iran have, where religious leaders hold ultimate political power?
A Theocracy
