Arabia , the biggest peninsula in the world , in the south-west of Asia . It is bounded on the north by the Syrian Desert; on the east by the Persian Gulf; on the south by the Indian Ocean; and on the west by the
Red Sea
. This vast region which embraces an area twice and half the area of
Egypt
is divided into several parts , differing from each other in the features of their soil , climate and the appearance of their dwellers .
The most important part is Hijaz proper , containing the famous cities of
Medina
and Mecca , the birthplace of the Arab Prophet , 80 kilometers from the
Red Sea
shores and the port of Jeddah , the leading place of the Muslim pilgrims . Hijaz stretches from the North to the South , between the Red Sea and the chains of mountains which run down to the Indian Ocean . The south-west corner of the peninsula is named Yemen . Hadramut lies to the east of Yemen , bordering the Indian Ocean . Oman rests on the Gulf of Oman . The High tableland which stretches from the mountains of Hijaz eastwards to the desert of Al-Ahsa and Al-Bahrain on the Persian Gulf
is Called Nejd .
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