Capital of Syria, with estimated 1.7 million inhabitants. Economy is based upon governmental administrative activities, processed food, clothing, and printed material. Includes details of economy, transportation, culture, history and administration.

Palm tree, from the family Phoenix, where the female plant produces the fruit ? the dates. The tree itself is used as timber, building material, handicrafts, rope and feed for animals.

Salt lake of Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, which is the lowest water surface on earth, at minus 395 meters compared to the level of the Mediterranean Sea. Lake has no outlet, and evaporation leads to the high content of salt, six times more salty than the ocean water.

Muslim religious technique used by Sufis, where a name of God or a short religious phrase is repeated over and over again. Can also involve music, where spiritual songs, hard to distinguish form ordinary songs, are used.

Muslim juridical term for Christians and Jews, sometimes Zoroastrians, Mandeans or even Hindus, living in a society governed by Muslims rulers and law.

Capital of Qatar with estimated 400,000 inhabitants. Economical base is petroleum exports, shrimp processing, finances, and administration.

Roman ruins in northern Tunisia. Served as the seat of the Numidian king Masinissa in the 2nd century BCE.

River valley in southern Morocco, 125 km long.

Religion and group of people which numbers between 350,000 and 900,000. Theology of the religion is called hikma, and its main theme is that God incarnated himself in the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim, who disappeared in 1021.

City and emirate in the United Arab Emirates with an estimated 710,000 inhabitants. Economical base centers on petroleum exports, port activities and international trade.

Religion with around 700,000 members worldwide. Creed has elements from Zoroastrianism, Manicheism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. [ Move - Reference/Encyclopedias/Subject_Encyclopedias/Encyclopaedia_of_the_Orient/Y ]