1. Economy of the middle east

2. Trade has been important in the region since ancient times.
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3. Sea lanes are the most important trade routes in the region.
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4. Countries as ranked by GDP
#4 Israel
#1 Kuwait
#3 Qatar
Qatar
#2 United Arab Emirates

5. Economic Characteristics
Heavy reliance on primary economic activity
Oil drilling
Agriculture: nomadic herding (pastoralism)
Bedouin shepherd with sheep.

6. The Bedouin are a nomadic tribe that live and herd in the Arabian Desert and North Africa.
pastoralism
Def. -- of or pertaining to shepherds or herders.

7. The Bedouin are a nomadic tribe that live and herd in the Arabian Desert and North Africa.
pastoralism

8. Economic Characteristics
The Nile delta has fertile farmland.

9. Economic Characteristics
Cotton is an important product in the Nile River Valley in Egypt.

10. Economic Characteristics
Egyptian cotton is known for high quality.

11. Economic Characteristics
Oil revenues: positive and negative effects
Positive: High revenues
Negative: Over reliance on one product.

12. OPEC
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

13. OPEC
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
An international organization made up of Iraq, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Angola, Algeria, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

14. OPEC
An international organization made up of Iraq, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Angola, Algeria, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

15. OPEC
OPEC is a cartel, a group of producers of the same product that act together to control the market by regulating production.

16. OPEC
Since OPEC countries produce so much oil, they can control the world market and price.

17. OPEC
If the price of oil begins to decrease, what do OPEC nations do in response?

18. Water: the region’s most precious resource. Why?

19. Water: the region’s most precious resource.
The Ashkelon Desalination Plant in Israel provides for 13% of the country’s domestic water demand. 19

20. Water: the region’s most precious resource.
The Jebel Ali plant in Dubai is the largest desalination facility in the world. 20

21. Great variation in quality of life: ranging from relatively high to poverty stricken.

22. Regional conflicts, political unrest that affects the tourism industry.

23. 3. 5 million people visit Israel every year. 2
3.5 million people visit Israel every year. 2.4 million travel there for “Christian tourism.”

24. Regional conflicts, political unrest that affects the tourism industry.
A Palestinian boy holds a toy gun and wears a mask while pretending to shoot at U.S. tourists on a street in Jerusalem’s old town. August 18, (REUTERS NEWS SERVICE)

25. Guest workers
There are more jobs than workers in some areas of the Middle East.
Guest workers from other parts of the world (mainly India and Pakistan) are hired to do many jobs.

26. Guest workers
Guest workers often live in poor conditions in the midst of wealth.

27. Guest workers
Guest workers in Dubai.

28. Interpret this cartoon.
Guest workers
Interpret this cartoon.

29. The Nile River

30. Egypt
Population Density

31. Egypt
Major roads

32. The Nile River
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33. Aswan High Dam on the Nile River

34. Aswan High Dam

35. Aswan Power Station

36. Aswan Power Station
“That’s one high dam!”

37. Aswan Dam on the Nile River
Benefits
Flood control
Water for irrigation
Fishing industry
Generating electricity
Negative Effects
90,000 people displaced by Lake Nasser.
Silt is building up behind dam and not deposited in river plain.
Poor irrigation practices are ruining soil fertility.
Nutrients for Mediterranean fish are not reaching the sea.
Damage to river delta.
Antiquities covered by water.

38. Economy of the middle east Summary
Trade
Pastoralism
Agriculture
Importance of oil
Water
OPEC
Quality of life
Tourism industry
Guest workers
Aswan High Dam