Arab League Countries on the Mediterranean Sea
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The Mediterranean Sea—called in Arabic 'al-Bahr al-Abyad al-Mutawassit' (the Middle White Sea)—lies between Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. Several countries that are members of the Arab League have coastlines on this sea, which affects their maritime trade, fishing, tourism, and relations with the European Union.
These countries include both those in North Africa and those in the Eastern Mediterranean (Levant). The coastline provides major ports connected to major shipping routes through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar, two globally significant passages through which ships pass.
Countries with Mediterranean coastlines
North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Eastern Mediterranean: Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine (Gaza Strip coastline). Other member states, such as Jordan, Iraq, Sudan, and Gulf states, do not have direct Mediterranean coastlines, although some are connected to the Red Sea or the Arabian Gulf.
Economic and maritime significance
Major ports on this coast include Alexandria and Port Said (Egypt); Casablanca is not on the Mediterranean (it faces the Atlantic), but Tangier Med in Morocco is located at the Strait of Gibraltar, and Beirut (Lebanon). Egypt in particular benefits from the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, making it one of the world's busiest trade routes. Natural gas found beneath the seabed—especially in the eastern Mediterranean—has also increased interest in maritime boundaries.
Political issues
Exclusive economic zone (EEZ) boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean remain a subject of dispute between different states, including both Arab and non-Arab countries. Similarly, migration and transit across the Mediterranean toward Europe have made the coasts of Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco focal points in discussions of migration agreements between the European Union and North African states.