Why are Middle East countries that produce oil rich?

The Middle Eastern oil-rich countries are those primarily on the Arabian Plate. This piece of land was under water for most of its history. During that period, billions upon billions of marine creatures, from algae and bacteria up to whatever else was swimming around, sunk to the sea bottom and formed layers that are literally miles deep. read more

The terms "Middle East" and "oil-rich" are often taken as synonyms of each other. Talk of the Middle East and oil has made it seem as if every country in the Middle East were an oil-rich, oil-producing exporter. Yet, the reality is at odds with that assumption. The Greater Middle East adds up to more than 30 countries. read more