Turkey is the most powerful country in the Middle East. Its geostrategic position at the crossroads of Asia and Europe has provided it with sufficient geopolitical influence. Turkey is also a member of NATO and the European Union. Economically, despite the collapse of its national currency, Turkey’s nominal GDP has approached one trillion dollars.
In this article, we will examine 12 powerful countries in the Middle East on the brink of 2024. The Middle East is characterized by severe power imbalances and numerous inequalities, with wealthy countries possessing advanced technology sharing borders with neighbors devastated by war. While some governments can subsidize education, healthcare, and electricity, others struggle with poverty, high unemployment, and power outages.
According to Several sources, the primary source of these inequalities is oil and gas—vast reserves that have made some Middle Eastern countries significantly wealthier than their neighbors. However, it is not only access to these two natural resources that has enriched these countries. Changes in regional political realities and their strategic relationships with global powers have also contributed to their prosperity.
Oil and Gas in the Middle East
According to a report from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), 53% of the world’s proven oil reserves and half of all natural gas reserves are located in the Middle East. These two natural resources account for 51% of total exports from the region.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait are among the largest oil producers in the world, while their citizens enjoy a high quality of life.
Several major multinational oil and gas companies, such as Exxon Mobil Corporation, BP p.l.c., and Chevron Corporation, have been operating in the Middle East for nearly a century, investing billions in exploration, extraction, and production. Local companies also perform well in this industry.
For example, Saudi Aramco is the largest oil and gas company globally and the second-largest company by revenue—only behind Walmart. Saudi Aramco produces 13 million barrels of oil daily. The scale of its operations can be assessed by its net profit of $161 billion in 2022, which was more than three times Exxon Mobil’s revenue for that same year.
Funding Military Power
Many oil-rich countries also use their economic power to bolster their military capabilities. Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer in the Middle East, had a military spending of $75 billion in 2022, making it the fifth-highest spender on defense globally. This includes a $3 billion purchase of Patriot missiles produced by RTX to protect Saudis from Houthi missile attacks in Yemen.
The Saudis also emphasize developing their defense industries. Reuters reported in March 2022 that Lockheed Martin would invest $1 billion in manufacturing components for its THAAD missile defense system in Saudi Arabia.
That same year, the UAE purchased a THAAD missile defense system from the United States under a $2.25 billion contract while Egypt received a C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft from America. Lockheed Martin was the contractor for both deals.
The Saudis and Emiratis have consistently sought to acquire Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets as well. However, this interest has not yet garnered attention from the United States due to concerns that such an action could spark an arms race in the region. Frustrated by delays in acquiring American F-35s, Abu Dhabi purchased 80 Rafale fighter jets from France, with Riyadh considering a similar move.
Normalization of Arab Relations with Israel
Parts of the Middle East remain unstable with governments that harbor animosity toward Israel due to U.S. support amid territorial disputes with Palestine. Today, Israel stands as one of the most powerful economic and military forces in the Middle East, backed by strong diplomatic, financial, and military support from the United States.
Over several decades, efforts have been made to resolve Arab-Israeli conflicts. In recent years, significant changes have occurred in previously hostile relations between Arab countries and Israel, highlighted by the Abraham Accords in 2020 that normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and both the UAE and Bahrain.
Following this agreement, Sudan and Morocco also established relations with Israel in 2021. Since 2020, the UAE and Israel have signed a free trade agreement and commercial contracts worth $10 billion. In March, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and BP p.l.c jointly proposed $2 billion to acquire a 50% stake in Israeli natural gas producer NewMed Energy.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated earlier this September that his country is nearing an agreement to normalize relations with Israel. Talks were halted after Israel’s attack on Gaza following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7.
Turkey’s Power
Turkey is another major power in the region that has taken on an influential role under President Erdoğan’s administration through neo-Ottomanism ideology and nationalism. Ankara has played an active role in conflicts in Syria and Libya while positioning itself as a mediator in many political and diplomatic disputes within the Islamic world.
Economically, despite the lira’s decline, Turkey remains a significant economic force nearing a nominal GDP of one trillion dollars. Its cultural influence is also at an all-time high as millions of tourists visit Istanbul annually.
The government has also spent considerable resources over about a decade promoting Turkish culture through television series that often portray Turkey as a supporter of all Muslims beyond its borders.
Read more: Understanding the Middle East: A Journey Through Its Rich History and Culture
Methodology
We ranked 12 powerful countries in the Middle East for 2024 based on analyses according to four criteria—economic power, military power, soft political power, and cultural influence. The ranking method for these countries was specified for each criterion; then scores were assigned—60% for economic and military power and 40% for political power and cultural influence. After applying these scores, aggregated scores were calculated. Countries were ranked in descending order accordingly.
12 Powerful Countries in Middle East in 2024
Bahrain
- Economic Power Rank: 13
- Military Power Rank: 13
- Soft Power Rank: 9
- Cultural Influence Rank: 14
- Final Score: 12.15
Bahrain is one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East, boasting a stable economy worth $44 billion and a per capita GDP of just over $26,000. Bahrain also has one of the strongest currencies globally, with the Bahraini Dinar ranking second only to the Kuwaiti Dinar in exchange rates against the US Dollar.
Politically, Manama plays an important role in the region. During the tensions with Qatar in 2017, it allied with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, and then signed the Abraham Accords alongside the UAE in 2020 to establish relations with Israel.
Jordan
- Economic Power Rank: 12
- Military Power Rank: 14
- Soft Power Rank: 10
- Cultural Influence Rank: 9
- Final Score: 11.65
Jordan is another significant country in the Middle East, bordered by war-torn Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, and Israel and the West Bank to the west. The country has strong ties with the United States and works towards promoting peace and moderation in the region. Jordan is a major recipient of American financial and military aid.
Oman
- Economic Power Rank: 10
- Military Power Rank: 11
- Soft Power Rank: 8
- Cultural Influence Rank: 10
- Final Score: 9.8
Oman is one of the more successful countries in the Middle East despite not being as rich in oil and gas as some other regional powers. Its strategic location has enabled it to become a major logistics hub in the region. Additionally, Oman maintains balanced relations with regional neighbors and global powers while avoiding active involvement in conflicts.
Iraq
- Economic Power Rank: 7
- Military Power Rank: 6
- Soft Power Rank: 14
- Cultural Influence Rank: 12
- Final Score: 9.2
Iraq was largely devastated following the U.S. invasion in 2003 and subsequent advances by ISIS across various parts of the country. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq has managed to turn things around and regain stability. The Iraqi economy is heavily reliant on oil.
With proven reserves of 145 billion barrels, Iraq is the fifth-largest oil producer globally. The Iraqi army is currently rebuilding itself after successes against terrorist groups, ranking as the 45th strongest army worldwide according to Global Firepower Index for 2023.
Kuwait
- Economic Power Rank: 9
- Military Power Rank: 12
- Soft Power Rank: 6
- Cultural Influence Rank: 8
- Final Score: 9
Kuwait is an economic powerhouse in the Middle East. In 2023, it ranked 35th out of 121 countries on Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Index, making it the sixth most politically influential country in the region. Much of Kuwait’s power stems from its vast oil and gas reserves.
Kuwait has a history of armed conflict with Iraq, which led to a strong military establishment. However, in recent decades, it has focused on strengthening its economy while distancing itself from regional conflicts. The Kuwaiti Dinar is recognized as the strongest currency against the U.S. Dollar.
Iran
- Economic Power Rank: 6
- Military Power Rank: 3
- Soft Power Rank: 12
- Cultural Influence Rank: 7
- Final Score: 7.05
Despite facing Western sanctions for several decades, Iran remains one of the strongest countries in the Middle East as of early 2024. The country’s military consists of nearly 600,000 personnel and over 4,000 tanks. Iran holds a high cultural influence worldwide through its soft power via culture, heritage, and cuisine, as well as hard power through political groups and militias it supports across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
Qatar
- Economic Power Rank: 8
- Military Power Rank: 9
- Soft Power Rank: 4
- Cultural Influence Rank: 6
- Final Score: 7
Qatar is among the most powerful countries in the Middle East due to its rich natural resources of oil and gas. In 2017, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Doha and imposed an economic blockade due to a prolonged diplomatic dispute.
Despite this, Qatar managed to maintain its position through its relationships with Iran and Turkey. Politically and culturally, it stands out as one of the most influential countries globally—an influence that was further solidified after successfully hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Egypt
- Economic Power Rank: 5
- Military Power Rank: 5
- Soft Power Rank: 7
- Cultural Influence Rank: 2
- Final Score: 5.05
Egypt boasts one of the strongest militaries in the Middle East. Its armed forces exert unprecedented control over various aspects of governance within the country. Egypt is a key ally of the United States in combating terrorism—particularly throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Economically, Egypt has faced challenges recently; since 2022, its pound has lost nearly half its value against the U.S. Dollar. However, its rich history and ancient traditions continue to attract tourists from around the world.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Economic Power Rank: 4
- Military Power Rank: 7
- Soft Power Rank: 1
- Cultural Influence Rank: 1
- Final Score: 3.7
The UAE ranked tenth on Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Index for 2023—making it politically influential within the Middle East. It also holds high cultural influence due to Dubai’s emergence as a financial and tourism hub significantly contributing to its soft power growth on global politics.
The UAE extracts approximately three million barrels of oil daily from its vast reserves primarily located around Abu Dhabi. Over the past decade, it has leveraged its economic power to build a strong military force; much of its military equipment comes from the United States and EU countries.
Israel
- Economic Power Rank: 3
- Military Power Rank: 2
- Soft Power Rank: 5
- Cultural Influence Rank: 4
- Final Score: 3.35
Israel stands out as technologically advanced—the most sophisticated nation in terms of technology within the Middle East—which contributes significantly to both its economic and military strength. Additionally, Tel Aviv’s close relationships with both America and Western nations have granted Israel considerable political influence within the region; for instance, normalization agreements were reached with UAE and Bahrain in late 2020.
Saudi Arabia
- Economic Power Rank: 1
- Military Power Rank: 3
- Soft Power Rank: 2
- Cultural Influence Rank: 5
- Final Score: 2.45
Saudi Arabia is recognized as the largest oil producer in the Middle East and utilizes its wealth from oil sales to fund ambitious military endeavors; it spent $75 billion on military purposes in 2022—making it the fifth-highest defense spender globally—while also not shying away from engaging militarily within regional conflicts.
Saudi operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen and diplomatic disputes with Qatar are testaments to this approach; additionally, Saudi Arabia houses some of Islam’s holiest sites—affording it substantial influence over numerous nations within Islam.
Turkey
- Economic Power Rank: 2
- Military Power Rank: 1
- Soft Power Rank: 3
- Cultural Influence Rank: 3
- Final Score: 2.1
Turkey is regarded as the most powerful country in the Middle East due to its geostrategic position at Asia’s crossroads with Europe—providing ample geopolitical leverage for Ankara; Turkey is also part of NATO and EU membership discussions.
Despite facing currency depreciation challenges recently, Turkey’s nominal GDP approaches one trillion dollars; Ankara leverages this economic strength by focusing on self-sufficiency within defense sectors while reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for military equipment.
Currently over seven hundred projects valued at $70 billion are underway within Turkey’s defense industries; Turkey’s military ranks as the strongest among all Middle Eastern nations—enhanced by cultural influence through state-supported television series dubbed into multiple international languages—such as “Diriliş: Ertuğrul”.
