Middle East "is not a formal geographical term. Generally speaking, it includes Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq (special topic, gallery), Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, Palestine, Maghreb countries (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia), Sudan, Mauritania and Somalia. Due to historical and cultural reasons, it is generally believed that Turkey and Cyprus belong to the Middle East. Afghanistan in the north is sometimes closely connected with the Middle East.