"Middle East" is an Anglo-Saxon term which designates, for Europeans, Americans, and Africans, the geographic region found between the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and Iran’s eastern border.

This region is essentially located in Asia, but is sometimes extended to include North Africa and Afghanistan. This area is home to several cultural and ethnic groups including Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, and Jewish. The five principal linguistic groups are Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, and Hebrew.

Reference books and common usage define the region as “the southwestern Asian nations, from Iran to Egypt.” With its Sinai Peninsula in Asia, Egypt is therefore often considered part of the Middle East.