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Natural resources and economy in the Middle East
I can explain how natural resources affect economies in the Middle East.
Lesson 5 of 12
New
New
- Year 9
Natural resources and economy in the Middle East
I can explain how natural resources affect economies in the Middle East.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Oil and gas drive many economies in the Middle East region.
- Some countries are diversifying beyond oil.
- Natural resources shape trade and wealth.
- Unequal resource distribution causes tensions.
Keywords
Imports - goods or services that a country buys from other countries
Exports - goods or services that a country sells to other countries
Distribution - how something is spread out across a geographic area
Economy - the way a country produces, uses and manages money, jobs, goods and services
Diversify - to add variety or do something differently
Common misconception
All Middle Eastern countries are rich because they have oil.
While oil is a major resource, not every country has it. Countries like Yemen and Jordan have little or no oil, which affects their economies differently.
Use current news stories and events — e.g. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan — to bring diversification to life. It helps students understand that these are real, unfolding challenges.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a natural resource?
What is a natural resource?
Something made by people
A city or town
A type of building
Q2.Which natural resource has helped change the Middle East’s economy?
Which natural resource has helped change the Middle East’s economy?
Coal
Wood
Gold
Q3.How has oil affected the Middle East?
How has oil affected the Middle East?
It made the region poorer
It caused the region to flood
It stopped people from living there
Q4.What is desalination?
What is desalination?
Adding salt to water
A type of desert
A way to drill for oil
Q5.What is a dam used for?
What is a dam used for?
To create waterfalls
To drain lakes
To build roads
Q6.Is the Middle East only made up of desert with no rivers or fertile land?
Is the Middle East only made up of desert with no rivers or fertile land?
Yes, it is all desert
Yes, no plants grow there
No, it is all mountains
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to the meanings:
Match the keywords to the meanings:
Q2.Which Middle Eastern countries are less wealthy because they have little or no oil?
Which Middle Eastern countries are less wealthy because they have little or no oil?
Saudi Arabia and UAE
Qatar and Kuwait
Iran and Iraq
Q3.Which factor most affects a country’s wealth in the Middle East?
Which factor most affects a country’s wealth in the Middle East?
Large population size
Many mountains
Cold climate
Q4.How does natural resource wealth affect the economy?
How does natural resource wealth affect the economy?
It causes deserts to grow
It stops trade with other countries
It makes the population smaller
