BAHRAIN
The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy. Bahrain's small size and central location among Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Sunni led government have good relations with Shia. Uprising within the Arab Spring not solved yet. Ongoing disatisfaction and demonstrations. Government type: constitutional monarchy. Manama is the capital.
IRAN
Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahavi was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established a theocratic system of government. Iran-Iraq war during the 1980's. Sanctions from the USA and EU for supporting Hezbollah. Nuclear program huge developed but now stopped. Improvement of international relation. Theocratic republic. Tehran is the capital.
IRAQ
Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958. Dictatorship of Saddam Hussain. Kuwait invasion 1990-> Gulf war. USA invasion in 2003 against alleged WMD. Iran-Iraq war. Currently on war with DAESH. Political inestability due to tensions between shia and sunni. Huge expansion of terrorism. Poverty high rates. Federal parliamentary republic. Capital Baghdad.
ISRAEL
Israeli state was declared in 1948, and Israel subsequently defeated the Arab armies in a series of wars that did not end deep tensions between the two sides. Haganah armed group. Ongoing constant war against Palestine. Troubles with arabs countries, especially against those that support Baaz ideology, like the United Arab Republic. Constant war among their neighbours. Terrorism troubles with palestinian local population. High developed army. Alleged nuclear weapons. Ongoing war with Hamas and al-Fatah. Capital is Jerusalem. Parlamentarian republic.
JORDAN
Jordan gained its independence in 1946 and thereafter became The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The country's long-time ruler, King Husseing successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population. Conflicts on the West Bank with Israel partially solved. Ongoing war against fundamentalist terrorism. Parlamentary constitional democracy. Capital is Amman.
KUWAIT
iKuwait has been ruled by the Al-Sabah dynasty since the 18th century. Co-sovereignty with the UK until 1961. Overrun from Iraq in the Gulf War in 1990. The Al-Sabah family returned to power in 1991 and established one of the most independent legislatures in the Arab World. Youth protestants on demonstrations during the Arab spring. Political ongoing conficts with the opposition and the government. Constitutional monarchy. Kuwait city is the capital. High economy level due to oil.
LEBANON
Since its independence in 1943, the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Hezbollah terrorism considered as a war. Parliamentary democracy. Capital: Beirut.
OMAN
Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. Gained the independence in 1971 from the UK. Good relations wit its neighbours. Demonstrations that wanted a better economic system and to stop corruption. Muscat is the capital. Absolute monarchy, it is now opening to the world of democracy. First local elections. Ongoing process of decentralization.
QATAR
Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. Now it is a prosperous contry that base its economy on oil. High dependent economy. Capital is Doha. Absolute monarchy.
SAUDI ARABIA
The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by Ibn Saud after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. Absolute monarchy ruled by the Saud dinasty. High influential within the region. Conflict with Shia Iran. Modernization of the country ongoing since the 2005. Social opportunities and improvement of woman rights. Capital Ryad. Death penalty is used.
SYRIA
Get its independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability and experienced a series of military coups. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. Al-Asad "dinasty" ruled the country since 1970, when a coup took place. Current war ongoing among Shia president and Sunni opposition and several oppositions groups. Capital is Damascus. Illiberal presidential republic lead by Al-Assad. Repression during Arab spring brought the ongoing war.
TURKEY
Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa Kemal, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under his leadership, the country adopted radical social, legal, and political reforms. Several military coups. Capital is Ankara. Illiberal parlamentary republic. Current president is concentrating powers, re-centralization by Recyp Erdogan. Conflicts with kurds (PKK). Turkish recent coup of June 2016 ended with a ongoing purge of political charges, judges, teachers...
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
In 1971, six of these states - Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. This new country based on the oil production it is very wealthy. Capital is Abu Dhabi. Federation of monarchies. Very dependant on the oil oscilations. Alleged it supported terrorist groups. Arab Spring did not affected the country, so mainly the population is rich.
PALESTINA
Interim self-government body established in 1994 following the Gaza–Jericho Agreement to govern the Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank, as a consequence of the 1993 Oslo Accords. Conflict between the Fatah and Hamas parties, its authority had extended only in areas of the West Bank. Since January 2013, the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority uses the name "State of Palestine" on official documents. Current tensions with Israel. Terrorist presence. Ramallah is the administrative city. Provisional democratic self-government.
YEMEN
Yemen is a poor country of the arabbian peninsule. Yemen resulted in 1990 after the unification of North Yemen and South Yemen. Currently it is a ongoing war between the government Hadi (Sunni) and the Houthis rebels (Shia). Poor country that has a weak economy, it is intervened by foreign agents like Saudi Arabia. The capital de iure is Sana'a. Currently its form of government is a provisional one.
EGYPT
The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Became independent from the UK in 1952. Nasser nationalism. Prosperous nation with a strength economy, but high inequality. Several coups. Affected by the Arab Spring. Mubarak was overrun. Morsi won the elections but a coup lead my militars jailed him. Capital: Cairo. Presidential republic (Al Sisi)