Discover the Intrigue: Top 10 Fun Facts About the Middle East You Never Knew

1. Camel Drag Racing

Camels: the drag racers of the desert! These souped-up, humped hot rods zoom along racetracks, leaving cheers and a cloud of kicked-up sand in their wake: In the Middle East, ancient camel racing sees dromedaries reaching impressive speeds of up to 40 mph, controlled by robot jockeys while passionate owners and fans drive alongside to cheer them on, creating a unique and wholly entertaining spectacle without a penny being wagered.
Source => nationalgeographic.com

2. Unique Middle Eastern Weekends

Ready to switch on your "Workin' for the Weekend (Literally)" mode? In Middle Eastern countries where the weekend was historically a Thursday-Friday affair, it's not just about turning "Manic Mondays" into "JummahJams": Many nations, such as Saudi Arabia and UAE, have recently adopted a Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday weekend to improve business trade and cooperation with the rest of the world.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know there's a luxurious hotel in Saudi Arabia with direct views of the Kaabah and the Haram Mosque? Experience divine indulgence and spirituality at the Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower! 🕌💎

=> Fun Facts about Saudi-Arabia

3. Baghdad's Circle of Power

Move over, Tony Stark: Baghdad was rocking the "Circle of Power" way before Arc Reactors were a thing. The Round City of Baghdad, founded in 762 CE, featured three perfectly circular walls and four gates, with the Caliph's residence situated smack dab in the middle – an architectural marvel that spelled wealth, prestige, and prosperity.
Source => epoch-magazine.com

4. Ethnic Party in the Middle East

If the Middle East was a party, it'd be filled with a concoction of the most vibrant, colorful, and dramatic guests you could imagine: Meet the diverse array of ethnicities! The serious reveal: Though Arabs dominate much of the region, other ethnic groups like Turks, Kurds, Persians and plenty more add their own unique zest to the cultural amalgamation found in countries like Iran, Israel, and Turkey. So, contrary to popular belief, the Middle East is an incredibly multifaceted place, far more than just an "Arab majority" fiesta.
Source => cotf.edu

5. Ancient OG Texters

Who says ancient people didn't have a way with words? They were basically the OG texters of their time, sending coded messages in emojis like cuneiform and hieroglyphics: The Middle East birthed an array of writing systems, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Assyrian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Sumerian, and Ancient Greek scripts. Today, Arabic and Hebrew dominate the written communication in the region, but Kurdish, Persian, and Turkish also play their part in making the Middle Eastern linguistic landscape a mosaic of linguistic luxury.
Source => ohiostate.pressbooks.pub

6. Sweltering Rub' al Khali Desert

Who needs a sauna when you have the ultimate, all-natural outdoor heat treatment: the Rub' al Khali, or "Empty Quarter," is both the largest sand desert in the world and one of the hottest places on earth, hitting daily maximum temperatures of a sizzling 47 °C (117 °F) in July and August. But don't let its sweltering temps fool you – this colossal sandbox is home to a diverse ecosystem, including a cast of creepy-crawlies, rodent roommates, remnants of ancient hippopotamus, water buffalo, and long-horned cattle, as well as 31 recently discovered plant species and 24 bird species just winging it in the heat.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Keffiyeh: Sunburn Savior & Symbol

Who knew a simple headscarf could stir up sandstorms of controversy and double as a sunburn savior? Behold the mighty keffiyeh: a traditional Middle Eastern headdress with origins in ancient Mesopotamia that not only protects one's face from the wrath of sun, dust, and sand, but also became a symbol of Palestinian nationalism during the Arab Revolt in the 1930s and the Palestinian resistance movement in the 1960s. While its recent debut in Western fashion may have ruffled some feathers, the keffiyeh's centuries-old versatility remains unscathed.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Sneezing Penguins in Dubai

Why did the penguin cross the desert? To sneeze some salt at Ski Dubai, of course! When they're not waddling around on snow or slippery ice, these tuxedoed party animals have a secret talent in the art of saline sorcery: Ski Dubai's Snow Park has a Penguin Encounter where you can not only meet King and Gentoo penguins but also witness their astonishing ability to sneeze salt after drinking seawater.
Source => skidxb.com

9. Roasted Camel Delicacy

Move over turducken, the Middle East has a bigger bird to roast: Contrary to popular belief, the Bedouin whole roasted camel is not stuffed with a smorgasbord of meats and eggs, but is instead seasoned with traditional spices and served with rice or other side dishes on special occasions like weddings and parties.
Source => delish.com

10. Arabic "Numeral Telephone"

You've heard of the game "Telephone," but have you played the number version called "Numeral Telephone?": Arabic numerals, popularly used in Western countries, were initially invented in India and later adopted by the Arab world; and while the Arabic script is written from right to left, numbers interestingly follow their Indian origin and are written from left to right.
Source => theguardian.com