If it weren't for all the oil would the Arabic countries be just like Africa?

Question

With poverty and disease etc?

Answer 1

I think it's really difficult to anticipate, because when you assume something, you have to assume other things in order to get reasonable analysis.

Any way, some important facts might change the way of thinking, like the following, please have a look:

- Some natural resources (like gold and diamond) are available in Africa, but yet, they are poor countries, although gold is not less important in world economy than oil.

- Not all Arabic countries have oil, examples of countries without oil but still without poverty and disease etc: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Morocco.

- Some businessmen from arab oil countries have business that's not related to oil, a big example is the Saudi one of the richest men in the world (Al Walid Bin Talal).

- Specificall, regarding disease, I can anticipate this part, as you can just have a general look at the oil arab countries before discovering oil in their lands, so that would be in the early 20th century, they were poor, but because of religion and tradition, the causes of diseases are much reduced (I specially mean those disease caused by making sex with animals).

- Arab built big civilization even before discovering oil & petrol in the world, if you please have a look at Spain and Portugal, and see the Arab states that were built there like: Granada, Toledo, Andalucia, ... please see (Alhambra). Beside that, you can have a look at the science that Arab made at old time (between 8th and 14th centuries), and some sciences and discovered things still have arabic origin names, for example: algebra, alchimy, algorithms, alcohol. In general, any word that starts with "al" is probably with arabic origin, since "al" is like "the" in english. and regarding culture please read "Aladdin", "Arabian Nights" or "One thousands and one nights", don't forget to read something about the italian book "Divinity Comedy" which was inspired by arabic books.

As a conculsion, to chase truth and reality, listen to what people and media say, but always make sure that what they say is correct by reading books, and why not visiting, maybe you'll realize that you had a totally different image.

Answer 2

I wish that we all stop judging people that speak the same language, have the same religion or live in one land.
We can’t take all Arabs for granted, based on groups of weird political believes like tourists or extremist.
Many Arabs want to live in peace just like any other nation. Other Arabs – that I read about or met- they are great thinkers, writers, business expert and more.
Its the same kind of comments or questions some people say:

Why Americans do that? Why blacks do this? Why white people say this… etc.

There are some individual cases that act extremely in some field, but it doesn’t mean all of us think the same. I would rather be more specific when I discuss any issue and address facts only.

Answer 3

all people see when they hear about arab countries is OIL. They have other products that they export.
they would not be like africa s they do export these to european countries as well as north america. It is just that oil is the main export and continues to be that until all is gone since it is in high demand on the world market right now.
Yes Africa has many countries thus many resources but they also have many things to export also, only the western world does not like to acknowlege most of it.

Answer 4

I guess you can advise your people to stay off their oil and enjoy your luxury.Africa is poor because some greedy invaders wouldn't leave our continent alone.Africa is very poor,very well accepted.But i was hoping that debts of all these rich or developed countries would be published for everyone to see.I bet some individual countries debt could cover the debt of all the debts of Africa.

Answer 5

hey, they can't be like africa, since africa have a lot of resources but don't know how to use it, while arabs has oil but they know very well how to use it + not all arab countries has oil, lebanon for example (which is an arab country) don't have oil, but they have tourism and the best business man in the world like Mr. ghosn, the manager of renault and nissan or Mr. smaha, the manager of cma cgm one of the biggest shipping sealiner in the wolrd, or the manager of smart the car, Mr. Hariri who is "was" one of the richiest man of the world

Answer 6

It would probably be much much much worse, because unlike tourism and such the desert offers nothing. Also without that money from oil i feel the islamic attitude would be even worse off than it is now. Also Saudi Arabia offers United States discounted oil so it's a good thing they have it :).

Answer 7

no - africa was colonized; most of the problems there result from the type of colonization. the mid-east had a less gruesome colonization that did less damage. if it did not have natural resources, it would not prop up dictatorial governments that rely on religious fanaticism to quell populism and dispel public anger at others. They would have probably advanced more in terms of art and thought, if their governments did not have the resources that they do. Fundamentalist Islam is built on the foundation of oil wealth; it would not have been so widespread if the saudi wahhabis had not had the power and influence they got from the oil, and they would not have needed to push it if they were not trying to maintain a monopoly on the world's most valuable natural resource.

Answer 8

It's not easy to say, after all the major source of revenue in Dubai is tourism not oil! Also the majority of arab people I've met are really smart and ruthless businessmen..that don't deal in oil..so you can't say they're totally useless without oil.

Answer 9

no
we still rich arabic country and still west countries looking to invade our country.
i advice yu all to read the history while we dont have the oil what we did in the world

have peace in your heart and life happy

Answer 10

Yes. Their nothin without their oil. lol. Africa has good stuff like diamonds, gold ect. But very little of the money goes to the people. =( its sad.