The Middle East is a world region across south-western Asia and North Africa. The term was created by US military strategists in the 1920-1930s, and definitions of the Middle East vary; it is not simply a geographical term, but also a political one. Although it is home to several predominantly Arabic and Muslim countries, not all people in the region are Arabs or Muslims, and these people can be found in great numbers outside the region.

The Middle East defines a geographical area, but does not have precise defined borders. The most common and highly arbitrary definition includes: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The Middle East is home to numerous athnic groups, including Amhara, Arabs, Armenians, Bahraini, Egyptians, Berbers, Africans, Assyrians, Azeris, Druze, Georgians, Greeks, Jews, Kurds, Persians, Turks, Turkmen and the Somali. Languages of the Middle East span many different families, including Indo-European, Afro-Asiatic, and Altaic.

Arabis in its numeros varieties and Persianare most widely spoken in the region, with Arabic being the most widely spoken language in the Arab countries. Other languages spoken in the region include Armenian, Assyrian (a form of Aramaic), Azeri, Balochi or Baluchi, Berber languages, Circassian, Persian, Georgian, Hebrew in its numeros varieties, kurdish, Luri, Turkish and other Turkic languages, Greek and Urdu. In Turkey, kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardiaz, and Gagauzlanguages are spoken, in addition to the Turkish language.

English is also spoken, especially among the middle and upper class, in countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Kuwait. French is spoken in Algeria, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Egypt. Hindi and other Indian and South Asian languages are spoken in many Middle Eastern countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Qatar, which have large numbers of South Asianimmigrants.

As one of the wellsprings of human civilisation in the ancient and medieval worlds, the birthplace of at least three world religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), and the focus of much modern economic and political importance, the Middle East remains a popular destination for travellers.

One of the most popular destinations is Dubai.  A city in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has been described in many ways – the City of Merchants, the City of Gold, Gateway to the Middle East – to name a few.  Dubai is a tourist’s delight and is acknowledged as the business, leisure and sporting capital of the Middle East.  The city offers visitors with year-round sunshine, a friendly and safe environment and a cosmopolitan lifestyle.  It combines old-world charm and the calm blue waters of the Gulf or visions of an Arabian night in the desert, to attract visitors.  Dubai offers everything from pristine beaches, adventure, shopping, sport, leisure to fine dining. 

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the largest hub in the Middle East and the home base of the Dubai's flag carrier Emirates.