1. LBST 2202
UNC Charlotte

2. The Arab World

3. Geography and
Government

4. In this lesson, we will talk about
the overall geography of the Arab World
concentrating on Saudi Arabia and UAE
briefly and on Lebanon in a little more details.

5. Geography of the Arab World
The Arab world belongs to two continents, Asia and Africa. It is
surrounded by long coastlines.

6. Modern Boundaries
Areas of the Arab world were under the power of several other
countries such as the Romans, Greeks, Ottomans, French and
British. However, the Europeans, mainly Britain and France,
were the ones that shaped the borders in the region during the
19th and early 20th century.
(Notice the straight line borders in the previous map.)

7. Strategic Importance Of The Arab World
http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/arabculture
 The crossroad between East and .pdf
West.
 Location of several world religions.
 Multitude of ethnic and linguistic
groups.
 Close to 60% of earth’s oil reserves
are at or near the Arabian Peninsula.
 Saudi Arabia possesses the world’s
largest reserves of oil.

8. Types of Government
• The Arab World is represented in different types of
Governments.
• Monarchies (Kingdoms) such as in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain,
Jordan and Morocco.
• Emirates such as in Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab
Emirates.
• Sultanate such as Oman.
• The rest of the Arab countries are all Republics. However,
Lebanon is the only country where democratic elections take
place. Mauritania has recently became democratic.

9. Climate
There is a variety of climate
conditions in the region. It varies
from dry in the Gulf, to seasonal
rainfalls in Morocco, Tunisia and the
mountains of Lebanon.

10. Agriculture
Agriculture is a very important sector of http://www.toursaudiarabia.com/date
the economy in the Arab world. The s/dates-2-medium.html
most important products are wheat,
dates, rice, and olives, which are main
ingredients in the Arab cuisine, as well
as, a variety of fruits and vegetables.

11. Saudi Arabia and UAE
• In Saudi Arabia, the Qur'an is part of the constitution. They
have a set of laws, but it never overrides Islamic Law.
• In the United Arab Emirates, we find a Federal, Presidential,
elected Monarchy government where the ruler of Abu Dhabi is
President of the United Arab Emirates, the head of state, and
the ruler of Dubai is the Prime Minister of the United Arab
Emirates, the head of government.

12. Saudi Arabia video

13. Saudi Arabia
Borders
• The red sea to the West and the
Persian Gulf to the East
• It is surrounded by 8 countries:
Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Yemen.
Information
• The capital city is Riyadh
• Population 28,686,633
• Area 856,355 sq mi

14. The Emirates
The United Arab Emirates
(UAE) is a federation of seven
states:
1.Abu Dhabi (Capital)
2. Dubai
3. Ajman
4. Fujairah
5. Ras al Khaimah
6. Sharjah
7. Umm al Qaiwain.
The UAE was formed in 1971
after independence from Britain.
Population 5.066 million
Area 32,300 sq mi

15. Dubai

16. Dubai
'Dubai Towers - Dubai', a cluster of
 Dubai, in the northeastern United Arab breath-taking towers that combine, to
Emirates is known as the Venice of the form a truly inspiring and dynamic
Gulf. sculpture. To be completed in 2009
 Dubai is the chief port and commercial
center of the country.
 Oil drilling has replaced traditional
occupations like pearl diving, fishing
and camel breading.
http://www.dubaitowersdubai.com/

17. Dubai World Trade Center
 Dubai relies on tourism with popular events such as the
World Cup of horse racing and the Dubai Shopping
Festival.
 The Dubai World Trade Center, a 39 story tower, promotes
international business relationships and world trade
through exhibitions and conferences throughout the year.
 Dubai also hosted the International Film Festival, in 2004,
2007, 2008 and 2009 featuring various films, showcasing
contemporary and classic global cinema.

18. Dubai cont’d
The modern city life that lacks air
pollution, traffic jams, poverty and
crime makes Dubai a great place
to live in.

19. Energy and Environment
“Oil-producing Dubai, a key commercial and technological crossroad in the
Persian Gulf region, is taking its first cautious steps towards the eventual
production of renewable hydrogen in close cooperation with car maker BMW. If
the strategy takes hold and succeeds, it could mark a revolutionary shift in the
world's system of energy distribution. “
http://www.ewire.com/display.cfm/Wire_ID/153

20. The tallest building in the world
 160 stories
 828 m (2720 ft)2009
http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/

21. Metro
The Dubai Metro Project cost $7.6 billion,
and it is considered to be the world's
longest automated driverless project. It
opened to the public on September 9,
2009.

22. Ski Dubai
It started in December 2005. This indoor ski slope is the
worlds third largest of its kind. An area that fits 6000 tons of
snow.
The average temperature throughout the year is around 75°F
(24°C). The summer season extends from May to October
during which the temperature varies between 113°F to 122°F
(30°C-47°C).

23. Burj Al Arab Hotel
305m tall luxury hotel in Dubai,
claimed to be the only seven star
hotel in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=68NxxW6kyf4&feature=related

24. The Palm Jumairah
http://www.thepalm.ae/jumeirah/news---media/video-gallery-1/palm-tv---episode-1/

25. Lebanon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zUKMUEQhhok&feature=related

26. Lebanon
Borders
The Republic of Lebanon, is a
small, mostly mountainous country
in Western Asia. It is bordered by
The Mediterranean Sea from the
west, Syria from the north and
east, and Israel/Palestine from the
south.
Information
Capital City: Beirut
Population 4 million
Area 3,950 sq mi

27. The flag
The flag of Lebanon
The red stripes symbolize the
pure blood shed in the aim of
liberation. The white stripe
symbolizes peace, and the
white snow covering Lebanon's
mountains. The green cedar
symbolizes immortality and
steadiness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mJ469qb8Kg
National Anthem

28. The nature of Government
• Lebanon developed a political system, Parliament square, Beirut
known as Confessionalism.
• Confessionalism is a style of
government that distributes political
and institutional power proportionally
among religious communities.

30. Parliament
The National Pact, an unwritten covenant, gave
• The Presidency to Maronite Christians
• The Prime Minister post to Sunni Muslims
• The Speaker of Parliament to Shia Muslims.
• It also provided that the ratio of seats in parliament would be six
Christian seats to five Muslim seats.

31. Population of Lebanon
 Population:3,971,941 (July 2008 est.)
 18 religious sects:
• Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri)
• Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite
Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian
Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian,
Copt, Protestant)
• other 1.3% recognized
 Languages:Arabic (official),
French, English, Armenian are spoken
 Literacy: 87.4%

32. Lebanon’s name ‫لبنان‬
 The name of Lebanon, or Lubnan is linked to
Phoenician and Aramaic root “LBN” which means
in various languages “white” or “milk” in reference
to the snow-capped Mount Lebanon.
 Lebanon and its Cedars appear 75 times in the Old
Testament.
 Lebanon’s name has been around for 4,000 years
non-stop (it's the oldest country/nation's name in
the world!)

33. Climate
 Lebanon has distinct four
seasons each year.
 In Beirut the average daily
high temperature is 14 C (57
F) in winter and 32 C (90 F)
in summer.
 In the mountains, the
summer time temperature is
cooler. Snow falls in winter
at higher elevations and can
last year-round.

34. Forests, Mountains and
Rivers

35. Major Forests of Lebanon
 Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve: It has an area of 550 km²,
nearly 5.3% of the Lebanese territory.
 Horsh Ehden is a Nature Reserve located in north Lebanon.

36. Mountains of Lebanon
The Eastern Mountain Range of Lebanon:
• Length: about 150 km (93.21)
• Highest peak: 9,232 ft.
The Western Mountain Range of Lebanon
• Length: about 160 Km (100 mi)
• Highest peak: 10,131 ft.

37. Lebanon Photo:- Becharri view of the town, with the mountain behind it

38. Plains

39. Several Plains
 Hirmel: vegetable and fruit production.
 Akkar: vegetable and fruit production.
 Damour: citrus, bananas, vegetable and fruit.
 Saida: citrus, bananas, vegetable and fruit.
 Sour: citrus, bananas, vegetable and fruit.
 Koura: famous for Olive production.
 Beqaa valley: yields the majority of Lebanon’s produce.

40. Beqaa Valley
Beqaa: is a fertile valley in east Lebanon. Located 19 miles east of Beirut.
It stretches down to the Red Sea about 75 miles in length and about 10
miles in width.

41. Beqaa Valley plain

42. Lakes

43. Qaraoun lake (dam)
Qaraoun lake is a very famous man-made lake in Lebanon. Its area is
about 4.25 sq miles. Located in the Beqaa, along the Litani river.
It is considered one of the most fascinating sights of the country.
Along lakeside, you find fish restaurants , boat rides, and water skiing.

44. Trees

45. Types of trees
Apples from Tannourin, Lebanon
Lebanon is home to:
• Cedar trees
• Pine trees
• Cypress trees
• Olive trees
• Citrus trees
• Apple trees
• Banana trees
• Grape vines
• Plum trees
• Peach trees
• Almond
• Walnut trees and many
more..

46. Cedar Tree
The most striking
characteristics of the Lebanon
Cedars are the numerous large
and wide-spreading horizontal
branches and the broad and
flattened summit of the full-
grown tree.

47. Pine Trees

48. Pine Trees (2)

49. Olive Trees
Genetic and archaeological studies
indicate that the original center of olive
cultivation was Lebanon, Cyprus,
Crete and Israel/Palestine.

50. Lebanese stamps represent the fruits of Lebanon

51. Livestock
Much of Lebanon's livestock was lost during the
civil war and the Israeli invasion in 1982. In 2001
there were only an estimated 399,000 goats,
329,000 sheep, 78,000 head of cattle, and
32,000,000 poultry. As Lebanon's own meat and
milk production is below consumption needs,
animal and milk products are imported.

52. Volcanos

53. No Volcanoes

54. Fossils

55. “Some of the earliest reports of fossils refer to 'fish in the rocks
of the mountains of Lebanon‘. A Remarkable picture of life in
the sea a hundred million years ago complete with worms,
squids, the occasional octopus, prawns and of course fish.”
http://ddc.aub.edu.lb/projects/geology/geology-of-lebanon/

56. Earthquakes

57. Earthquakes
 02/12/2008. An earthquake
hit near the town of Tyre
(Sour) in south Lebanon. A
second earthquake was felt
as far as Bint Jbeil near the
Israeli border.
 The largest Lebanese
earthquake struck in 1956
and caused 136 deaths,
destroyed 6,000 buildings
and damaged 1,700 more. It
destroyed a big part of the
old city of Saida. (Sidon)
 In 1759 an earthquake
completely destroyed Beirut
and Damascus killing
40,000.

58. Oil

59. No Oil
But there is an Oil Spill
 The spill came in the July 2006 war,
after an Israeli plane hit a Lebanese
power plant dumping 15,000 tons of oil
into the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
 It may take 10 years to recover.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiyeh_Power_Stati
on_oil_spill

60. Caves

61. Jeita Grotto
o The caverns of Jeita Grotto,
Mount Lebanon are on two
levels: the lower caverns are
visited by boat over a lake 2000
ft (623 meters) long, while the
dry upper gallery can be seen on
foot.
o It is entered in The Official New 7
Wonders of the World - chosen
by over 100 million votes and
entered the 3rd and final stage.

62. Rivers
There are 15 rivers in Lebanon
all of them coming from its own
mountains.

63. Important Rivers
 Hasbani: starts in Lebanon and ends in Jordan
 Nahr al-Kabir: forms in the north near Syria and flows into the Mediterranean
Sea.
 Nahr al-Kalb: It runs for 19 miles from a spring near the Jeita Grotto to the
Mediterranean Sea.
 Litani River: It rises west of Baalbek in the fertile Beqaa Valley and empties into
the Mediterranean Sea north of Tyre. It is the longest river.
 Nahr Ibrahim: This river was known as the Adonis River during ancient times.
 Orontes River: modern name ‘Asi ("rebel"), referring to it’s flow in the opposite
direction. It passes through Syria and enters Turkey.

64. Deserts

65. No Deserts

66. Some statistics of Lebanon
 18 religious communities.
 40 daily newspapers.
 42 universities.
 100 banks, not branches.
 70% of the students are in
private schools.
 One doctor per 10 people.
http://forums.canadiancontent.net/history/48826-statistics-about-lebanon.html

67. Major Cities

68. The largest two cities
Beirut:
The Capital City of Lebanon,
a candidate for the 2024
Summer Olympics games.
Tripoli city:
Second Capital city of
Lebanon.
It is 85 kilometers north of
Beirut. Famous for sweets
and making of wood
furniture.

69. 2nd two
largest cities
Sidon, or Saida:
Located south of Beirut and one of the
famous names in ancient history. The castle
was built by the Crusaders in 1228 AD.
Tyre, or Sour:
The city of origin of Alyssar, the founder of
Carthage, a city in Tunisia. Roman and Arab
ruins are around the city and its shores.

70. Two historical cities
Beiteddine:
The city of the Beiteddine palace which is:
o19th century architecture.
oHome of emir Bechir El Chehab II,
oBecame president’s summer house.
oNow is used as music festivals place.
Byblos, or Gbail
Where Alphabet was first created. The
oldest continuously inhabited city in the
world.

71. Famous Ruins
Baalbek
o Lebanon's best preserved Roman treasure.
o It can be counted among the wonders of the
ancient world.
Aanjar
East of Beirut. It represents the period of the
Umayyad, 660–750 whose capital was
Damascus.

72. United Nations headquarters in Beirut