GDP grew at a 2.1% annualized rate in the first quarter, marking the second straight quarter of growth, driven by rising exports.

The Middle East is a historically and culturally rich region at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, often considered the cradle of civilization. It was home to ancient empires like Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt, and later became the birthplace of major religions including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Today, the area is known for its diverse cultures, vast oil reserves, and complex geopolitical dynamics.

The Middle East is a historically and culturally rich region spanning parts of Western Asia and North Africa, often considered the cradle of civilization, where ancient empires like Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt flourished. It is the birthplace of three major monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and has been a crossroads of trade, culture, and conflict for millennia. Today, the region is known for its diverse cultures, vast oil reserves, and ongoing geopolitical significance.

Africa is the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent, renowned as the cradle of humankind due to the discovery of some of the earliest hominid fossils. Its history is rich and complex, marked by ancient civilizations like Egypt and Kush, the transatlantic slave trade, European colonization, and a powerful struggle for independence that reshaped the modern world. Today, Africa is a continent of immense cultural diversity, with over 50 countries and thousands of languages, reflecting both its deep heritage and dynamic, contemporary developments.

Asia is the world’s largest and most populous continent, home to ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and China. Its rich history includes the rise of major religions, vast empires like the Mongol and Ottoman, and pivotal trade routes such as the Silk Road. Today, Asia is a diverse region blending deep cultural traditions with rapid modern development.

Europe is a continent with a rich and complex history, shaped by ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, and two world wars. It is home to countless cultural sites, such as the Colosseum in Rome, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Acropolis in Athens, each reflecting its unique historical and artistic heritage. Today, Europe is known for its diverse cultures, political unions like the European Union, and its role as a global center for art, science, and innovation.

Mesopotamia, often called the “Cradle of Civilization,” was an ancient region in the eastern Mediterranean, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq and parts of Syria and Turkey. It is historically significant as the birthplace of some of the world’s first cities, writing (cuneiform), and complex societies, including the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian empires. The region’s rich cultural and technological innovations laid the foundation for much of Western civilization.

Persia, the historical name for modern-day Iran, was the heart of one of the world’s great ancient empires, the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BCE), founded by Cyrus the Great. Known for its rich cultural heritage, including magnificent sites like Persepolis and the intricate art of Persian carpets, the region has been a crossroads of civilizations for millennia. After periods of conquest by Alexander the Great and later Islamic empires, Persia reemerged as a powerful cultural and political force under the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century, shaping the modern nation of Iran.

Egypt is a country in Northeast Africa, renowned for its ancient civilization that flourished along the Nile River for over 3,000 years. It is home to iconic monuments like the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, built during the Old Kingdom period, and the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Modern Egypt continues to be a cultural and political hub in the Arab world, with Cairo serving as its bustling capital and a center of Islamic history and learning.

Judaism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, originating over 3,500 years ago in the ancient Near East. Its history is deeply tied to the Hebrew Bible, particularly the covenant between God and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The religion has since evolved through periods of exile, diaspora, and persecution, with core practices centered on ethical monotheism, study of sacred texts, and observance of commandments.