The Middle East and North Africa region — commonly referred to as MENA — is home to economic extremes. On the one hand, the region has some of the richest oil-producing economies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. On the other hand, it is home to some of the most volatile and fragile states, including Syria, Yemen, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Official sources have varying lists of countries belonging to MENA. Based on OECD data, there are a total of 14 ODA-eligible countries in the region. This includes Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the occupied Palestinian territories, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen.
Despite their abundant natural resources, these countries still face social and economic challenges brought on by inflation, political instability, and natural calamities.