Middle East: List of the 50 Largest Cities by Population

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1. Istanbul, Turkey – 15,900,000
Straddles Europe and Asia, rich in history and culture.


2. Tehran, Iran – 9,200,000
Capital and cultural heart of Iran.


3. Baghdad, Iraq – 8,500,000
Historic capital on the Tigris River.


4. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 7,700,000
Modern capital and business hub.


5. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – 5,000,000
Red Sea port and gateway to Mecca.


6. Amman, Jordan – 4,400,000
Capital with ancient ruins and modern life.


7. Ankara, Turkey – 4,100,000
Turkey’s capital and government center.


8. Aleppo, Syria – 3,800,000
Historic city known for its ancient market.


9. Dubai, UAE – 3,700,000
Luxury city with iconic skyscrapers.


10. Sanaa, Yemen – 3,000,000
Historic highland capital with unique architecture.


11. Mashhad, Iran – 3,000,000
Pilgrimage city in northeastern Iran.


12. Beirut, Lebanon – 2,400,000
Coastal city with vibrant culture and history.


13. Damascus, Syria – 2,300,000
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities.


14. Isfahan, Iran – 2,200,000
Historic Persian city known for architecture.


15. Gaziantep, Turkey – 2,100,000
Ancient city with famed culinary heritage.


16. Mecca, Saudi Arabia – 2,000,000
Islam’s holiest city, home to the Kaaba.


17. Adana, Turkey – 1,800,000
Southern city known for cuisine and agriculture.


18. Shiraz, Iran – 1,800,000
City of poets, gardens, and wine.


19. Tabriz, Iran – 1,700,000
Major city in northwestern Iran.


20. Abu Dhabi, UAE – 1,600,000
Capital of the United Arab Emirates.


21. Sharjah, UAE – 1,400,000
Cultural capital of the UAE.


22. Muscat, Oman – 1,400,000
Coastal capital known for forts and mosques.


23. Dammam, Saudi Arabia – 1,300,000
Oil-rich city on the Arabian Gulf.


24. Ahvaz, Iran – 1,300,000
Oil center in southwestern Iran.


25. Medina, Saudi Arabia – 1,300,000
Second holiest city in Islam.


26. Kuwait City, Kuwait – 1,300,000
Capital city known for modern towers.


27. Al Ahmadi, Kuwait – 1,200,000
Oil industry center in southern Kuwait.


28. Qom, Iran – 1,200,000
Religious center and site of major seminary.


29. Kayseri, Turkey – 1,100,000
Industrial city near Mount Erciyes.


30. Mersin, Turkey – 1,100,000
Mediterranean port and logistics hub.


31. Kermanshah, Iran – 1,000,000
City with ancient rock reliefs.


32. Basra, Iraq – 1,000,000
Port city and oil hub near the Persian Gulf.


33. Homs, Syria – 1,000,000
City on the Orontes River.


34. Diyarbakır, Turkey – 930,000
Historic Kurdish city with city walls.


35. Erbil, Iraq – 900,000
Kurdish regional capital with ancient citadel.


36. Raqqa, Syria – 800,000
Euphrates River city with historical significance.


37. Haifa, Israel – 800,000
Major port and industrial city.


38. Taiz, Yemen – 800,000
Mountain city and cultural hub.


39. Al Ain, UAE – 760,000
Oasis city in eastern UAE.


40. Rasht, Iran – 700,000
Northern city near the Caspian Sea.


41. Karbala, Iraq – 700,000
Important religious center for Shia Muslims.


42. Al Hudaydah, Yemen – 700,000
Red Sea port with fishing industry.


43. Hamadan, Iran – 700,000
One of the oldest cities in Iran.


44. Irbid, Jordan – 650,000
University city in northern Jordan.


45. Zarqa, Jordan – 600,000
Industrial city near Amman.


46. Ibb, Yemen – 600,000
Green highland city in central Yemen.


47. Kirkuk, Iraq – 600,000
Oil-rich city with ethnic diversity.


48. Najran, Saudi Arabia – 600,000
Southern city with Yemeni influences.


49. Buraidah, Saudi Arabia – 600,000
Capital of Al-Qassim region.


50. Tripoli, Lebanon – 500,000
Northern port city with crusader history.

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