Noun | 1. | ![]() Arab League - an international organization of independent Arab states formed in 1945 to promote cultural and economic and military and political and social cooperation OPEC, Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries - an organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum Mutawa, Mutawa'een - religious police in Saudi Arabia whose duty is to ensure strict adherence to established codes of conduct; offenders may be detained indefinitely; foreigners are not excluded Middle East, Mideast, Near East - the area around the eastern Mediterranean; from Turkey to northern Africa and eastward to Iran; the site of such ancient civilizations as Phoenicia and Babylon and Egypt and the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity and Islam; had continuous economic and political turmoil in the 20th century; "the Middle East is the cradle of Western civilization" Arabia, Arabian Peninsula - a peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf; strategically important for its oil resources Gulf States - the countries in southwestern Asia that border the Persian Gulf capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh - joint capital (with Mecca) of Saudi Arabia located in the central oasis; largest city in Saudi Arabia Mecca - joint capital (with Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia; located in western Saudi Arabia; as the birthplace of Muhammad it is the holiest city of Islam Al Madinah, Medina - a city in western Saudi Arabia; site of the tomb of Muhammad; the second most holy city of Islam Dhahran - an oil town in eastern Saudi Arabia on an inlet from the Persian Gulf; in June 1996 terrorists bombed an apartment complex in Dhahran killing 19 United States soldiers and wounding more than 300 people Tabuk - a city in northwestern Saudi Arabia Taif - a city in western Saudi Arabia to the east of Mecca Najd, Nejd - a central plateau region of the Arabian Peninsula; formerly an independent sultanate until 1932 when it united with Hejaz to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Hedjaz, Hejaz, Hijaz - a coastal region of the western Arabian Peninsula bordering on the Red Sea; includes both Mecca and Medina; formerly an independent kingdom until it united with Nejd to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia An Nafud, An Nefud, Nafud, Nefud - a desert in northern Saudi Arabia that is noted for its red sand and violent winds Syrian Desert - a desert of northern Arabia occupying western Iraq, southern Syria, eastern Jordan, and northern Saudi Arabia Saudi, Saudi Arabian - a native or inhabitant of Saudi Arabia |