Mosaic of the Middle East

“Middle East, Mideast or Near East is the area around the south and eastern Mediterranean Sea, both sides of Red Sea and areas across the Gulf; from Iran to Morocco and Sudan to Turkey.” This is one of the definitions of Middle East region which is home to ancient civilisations such as Phoenicia, Babylon, Egypt and Persia. The region is also the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
This all-important region has had continuous economic and political turmoil during the current century. While the culture, thoughts and beliefs of the people are covered behind the clouds of conflict and hardship, the eyes are capturing the beauty and magnificence of this part of earth, a part that had been the cradle of civilisations. Let’s catch a glimpse of this magnificent place captured through the lens of photographers.

Nasir al-Molk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran. Photo -Marjana Zefran/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria. Photo -Teo Jioshvili/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Hajj, Mecca, Saudi Arabia . Photo -Nassif Ahmed/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Photo – Jon Eric Lauritzen/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Nile River, Luxor, Egypt. Photo -Bruno Bengen/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Petra, Jordan. Photo – Herve Fucho/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Pigeons’ Rock, Beirut, Lebanon. Photo -Wael Massalkhi/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Horse, Giza, Egypt. Photo -Romona Robbins/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Empty Quarter Desert, Saudi Arabia. Photo -Muhannad Abu Ghdaib/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Noravank Monastery, Armenia. Photo -Andrew Brukhovetskyy/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem. Photo -Ilan Zimet/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Abu Manara Mosque, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo – Benjamin Thomas/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Wadi Rum, Jordan. Photo -Sheryl Akagi/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo – Nawfal Jirjees/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Temple of Hercules, Amman, Jordan. Photo – Danielle Courtenay/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo -Moriazi Mohamad/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. Photo -Dogu Uygar Unay/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Luxor Temple, Egypt. Photo -Sandy Alexander/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Treasury at Petra, Jordan. Photo -Or Hiltch/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Koran, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo -by Maurizio Punturi/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Mural, Kurdistan, Iraq . Photo -Christopher De Bruyn/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Sema Ceremony, Istanbul, Turkey. Photo -Gokhan Canbaz/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Bride, Yemen . Photo -Punam Bean/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Dancer, Egypt. Photo -Marcus DiMaggio/travel.nationalgeographic.com

Nice and great photos. great artistic touch with full asthetic sense