Chicago Arabesque :: June 25-28, 2008

The Arab World

Full Name: The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Population: 32,930,091 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Algiers
Date of independence: July 5, 1962 from France.
Type of Government: Republic.
Language: Arabic (official), French widely spoken, Berber spoken by 15% of the population.
Religion: 99% Muslim; Christian and Jewish 1% or less.
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc.
Important Industries: Petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing
Major Exports: Petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%.

Full Name: Kingdom of Bahrain
Population: 698,585
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Manama
Date of independence: August 15, 1971 from Great Britain.
Type of Government: Constitutional hereditary monarchy
Language: Arabic (official); English, Farsi, Hindi, and Urdu widely spoken.
Religion: Muslim 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Natural resources: Oil, natural gas, fish.
Important industries: Petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
Major Exports: Petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Full Name: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
Population: 671,000
Capital: Moroni
Date of independence: July 6, 1975 from France.
Type of Government: Republic
Language: Arabic and French (both official), Shikomoro (Swahili/Arabic blend)
Religion: Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Natural resources: Negligible
Important industries: Tourism, perfume distillation.
Major Exports: Vanilla, ylangylang (oil that has and exotic sweet smell), cloves, perfume oil, copra.

Full Name: Republic of Djibouti
Population: 486,530 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Djibouti City
Date of independence: July 27, 1977 from France.
Type of Government: Republic
Language: Arabic and French (official), Somali, Afar widely spoken.
Religion: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Natural resources: Geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Important industries: Construction, agricultural processing
Major Exports: Live animals, hides, and skins.

Full Name: Arab Republic of Egypt
Population: 78,887,007 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Cairo
Date of independence: February 28, 1922 from the United Kingdom.
Type of Government: Republic
Language: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Religion: Muslim 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc.
Important industries: Textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures
Major Exports: Crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

Full Name: Republic of Iraq
Population: 26,783,383 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Baghdad
Date of independence: October 3, 1932 from Great Britain.
Type of Government: Parliamentary democracy
Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkish, Assyrian, and Armenian spoken by minority populations.
Religion: Muslim 97%, Christian or other 3%
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, phosphate rock, sulfur, gypsum, salt.
Important industries: Petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Major Exports: Crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%

Full Name: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Population: 5,906,760 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Amman
Date of independence: May 25, 1946 from Great Britain.
Type of Government: Constitutional monarchy
Language: Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes.
Religion: Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2%
Natural resources: Phosphates, potash, limestone, marble, salt, and unexploited deposits of shale oil, copper, and uranium.
Important industries: Clothing, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism
Major Exports: Clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers, vegetables, manufactures

Full Name: State of Kuwait
Population: 2,418,393
Note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Kuwait City
Date of independence: June 19, 1961 from Great Britain.
Type of Government: Constitutional monarchy
Language: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Religion: Muslim 85%, other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
Natural resources: Petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas reserves.
Important industries: Petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials
Major Exports: Oil and refined products, fertilizers

Full Name: Republic of Lebanon
Population: 3,874,050 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Beirut
Date of independence: November 22, 1943 from France.
Type of government: Republic
Language: Arabic (official), French, Armenian, and English.
Religion: 70% Muslim; 30% Christian.
Note: 17 religious sects recognized (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant, Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri)
Natural resources: Lignite (brown coal), limestone, iron ore, stone, sand (for glass manufacturing), salt.
Important industries: Banking, tourism, food processing, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating
Major Exports: Authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper

Full Name: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Population: 5,900,754
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Tripoli
Date of independence: December 24, 1951 from Italy.
Type of government: Socialist
Language: Arabic (official), Italian and English are widely understood in the major cities
Religion: Muslim 97%, other 3%
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, gypsum, manganese, lignite coal, sulfur, limestone, marble, iron ore.
Important industries: Petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Major Exports: Crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals

Full Name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Population: 3,177,388 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Nouakchott
Date of independence: November 28, 1960 from France.
Type of government: Republic
Language: Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof
Religion: Muslim 100%
Natural resources: Iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, gold, phosphate, ilmenite (titanium ore)
Important industries: Fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Major Exports: Iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Full Name: The Kingdom of Morocco
Population: 33,241,259 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Rabat
Date of independence: March 2, 1956 from France.
Type of government: Constitutional monarchy
Language: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy.
Religion: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Natural resources: Phosphates, iron ore, coal, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt, tin.
Important industries: Phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Major Exports: Clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, vegetables

Full Name: Sultanate of Oman
Population: 3,102,229
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Muscat
Date of independence: 1650 from Portugal
Type of government: Monarchy
Language: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Religion: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25%
Natural resources: Copper, chromite, petroleum, some coal deposits, natural gas.
Important industries: Crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
Major Exports: Petroleum, re-exports, fish, metals, textiles

Full Name: Palestine
Population: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics estimate for 2007 approx. 4m. Outside the Occupied Territories, there are between 4.5m and 5m Palestinians. The largest number, between 2.5m and 2.8m, live in Jordan. Approximately 1m Palestinians live inside Israel. 360,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank as citizens of Israel.
Capital: Jerusalem
Type of government: Republic
Language: Arabic. English is widely spoken
Religion: Muslim (97%), Christian (3%)
Natural resources: Salt, potash, fish
Important industries: Small family businesses producing construction materials, pharmaceuticals, textiles and metal goods
Major Exports: fruits and vegetables

Full Name: State of Qatar
Population: 885,359 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Doha
Date of independence: September 3, 1971 from Great Britain.
Type of government: Monarchy
Language: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Religion: Muslim 95%, other 5%
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, fish.
Important industries: Crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
Major Exports: Liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Full Name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Population: 27,019,731
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Riyadh
Date of independence: September 23, 1932 (unification)
Type of government: Monarchy
Language: Arabic
Religion: Muslim 100%
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper, fish.
Important industries: Crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals; ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics; metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
Major Exports: Petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Full Name: Somalia
Population: 8,863,338
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Mogadishu
Date of independence: July 1, 1960 from British and Italian protectorates
Type of government: No permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government
Language: Arabic and Somali (both official), Italian, English
Religion: Muslim 100%
Natural resources: Salt, manganese, fish, small deposits of tin, phosphate, uranium, guano, coal, iron ore, gypsum, bauxite, copper
Important industries: Few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication
Major Exports: Livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Full Name: Republic of Sudan
Population: 41,236,378 (July 2006 est.)
Capital: Khartoum
Date of independence: January 1, 1956 from Great Britain and Egypt
Type of government: Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national elections for the 2008 - 2009 timeframe.
Language: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
Religion: Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
Natural resources: Petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, gypsum
Important industries: Oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly
Major Exports: Oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar

Full Name: Syrian Arab Republic
Population: 18,881,381
note: includes 20,000 Syrian people living in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
(July 2006 est.)
Capital: Damascus
Date of independence: April 17, 1946 from France
Type of government: Republic
Language: Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian.
Religion: Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Natural resources: Arable land, petroleum, phosphates, asphalt, chrome and manganese ores, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
Important industries: Petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing
Major Exports: Crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat

Full Name: Republic of Tunisia
Population: 10,276,158 (July 2007 est.)
Capital: Tunis
Date of independence: March 20, 1956 from France
Type of government: Republic
Language: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Religion: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Natural resources: Petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ores), tourism, textiles, footwear, food and beverages
Important industries: Petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Major Exports: Clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Full Name: United Arab Emirates
Population: 4,444,011
note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that included a significantly higher estimate of net inmigration of non-citizens (July 2007 est.)
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Date of independence: December 2, 1971 from Great Britain
Type of government: Federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Language: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Religion: Muslim 96%, other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas
Important industries: Petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles
Major Exports: Crude oil 45%, natural gas, re-exports, dried fish, dates

Full Name: Republic of Yemen
Population: 22,230,531 (July 2007 est.)
Capital: Sana’a
Date of independence: May 22, 1990 (unification)
Type of government: Republic
Language: Arabic
Religion: Muslim 99,9%, other 0.1%
Natural resources: Natural gas, petroleum, fish, rock, salt, marble, gold, lead, nickel, fertile soil (in the west), small deposits of coal and copper
Important industries: Crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial ship repair
Major Exports: Crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish