Arab League facts for kids

Quick facts for kids League of Arab States جامعة الدول العربية (Arabic) Jāmiʿat ad-Duwal al-ʿArabiyya
Flag Emblem
Member states shown in dark green
Administrative center	Cairo, Egypta
Official languages	Arabic
Demonym(s)	Arab
Type	Regional organization
Members	Algeria  Bahrain  Comoros  Djibouti  Egypt  Iraq  Jordan  Kuwait  Lebanon  Libya  Mauritania  Morocco  Oman  Palestine  Qatar  Saudi Arabia  Somalia  Sudan  Syria  Tunisia  United Arab Emirates  Yemen
Leaders
• Secretary-General	Ahmed Aboul Gheit
• Parliament Speaker	Ali Al-Daqbaashi
Legislature	Arab Parliament
Establishment
• Alexandria Protocol	22 March 1945
• Joint Defence and Economic Co-operation Treaty	18 June 1950
• Casablanca Protocol	11 September 1965
• Agreement for Judicial Cooperation	6 April 1983
• Greater Free Trade Area	2 January 2005
Area
• Total area	13,132,327 km2 (5,070,420 sq mi) (2nd)
Population
• 2022 estimate	462,940,089 (3rd)
• Density	27.17/km2 (70.4/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$3.4 trillion (5th)
• Per capita	$6,600
Currency	Algerian dinar Bahraini dinar Comorian franc Djiboutian franc Egyptian pound Iraqi dinar Jordanian dinar Kuwaiti dinar Lebanese pound Libyan dinar Mauritanian ouguiya Moroccan dirham Omani rial Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Somali shilling Sudanese pound Syrian pound Tunisian dinar UAE dirham Yemeni rial
Time zone	UTC+0 to +4
From 1979 to 1990, Tunis, Tunisia.

The Arab League (Arabic: الجامعة العربية, al-Jāmiʿa al-ʻArabiyya), also known as the League of Arab States, is a group of countries in the Arab world. It was started in Cairo, Egypt, on March 22, 1945. Six countries first joined: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (now Jordan), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined a bit later on May 5, 1945. Today, the Arab League has 22 member countries.

The main goal of the Arab League is to bring its member countries closer. They work together to protect their independence and discuss important issues. The League helps promote shared interests among Arab nations.

The Arab League has special groups like the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). These groups help with projects in politics, economy, culture, science, and social areas. The League is a place where countries can talk about their plans. They can also work to solve disagreements between members. For example, they helped during the 1958 Lebanon crisis. The League has also created important agreements to help countries work together on money matters. One example is the Joint Arab Economic Action Charter.

Each member country gets one vote in the Council of the Arab League. Decisions only apply to the countries that vote for them. In 1945, the League wanted to make its members' political, cultural, economic, and social programs stronger. It also aimed to help solve problems between them or with other countries. In 1950, they signed an agreement to work together on military defense. In 2015, the Arab League announced a plan for a Joint Arab Force. This force aims to fight against extreme groups and other dangers to Arab countries. Countries can choose to join this force, and it only steps in if a member country asks for help.

History of the Arab League

The Arab League was formed on March 22, 1945. This happened after the Alexandria Protocol was agreed upon in 1944. The main office of the League was in Cairo. Its goal was to be a group for Arab countries to grow their economies. It also aimed to solve problems and work together on political goals. More countries joined the League over time. Each country had one vote. One of their first big actions was to try and prevent Palestine from being divided. This was against a decision by the United Nations. Later, in 1965, a common market was set up.

Arab League of states establishment memorial stamp. Showing flags of the 8 establishing countries: Kingdom of Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (North Yemen), Syrian Republic, Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Lebanese Republic and Palestine

Some experts, like Michael Barnett, say that the Arab League has not always achieved a lot of cooperation. They believe the way the League was designed made it hard for countries to work closely together. This was because leaders wanted to keep their own power.

Geography of the Arab League

Joining dates of member states; the Comoros (circled) joined in 1993.
     1940s      1950s      1960s      1970s

The countries in the Arab League cover a huge area. It is more than 13 million square kilometers. This area stretches across two continents: Africa and Asia. Much of this land is dry deserts, like the Sahara.

However, there are also very fertile areas. These include the Nile Valley and the Fertile Crescent. The region also has deep forests in southern Arabia. It is home to parts of the world's longest river, the Nile.

Who are the Members?

The Charter of the Arab League is the main agreement that started the group. It says that the League is made up of independent Arab countries that sign this agreement.

In 1945, there were only six members. Now, the Arab League has 22 member countries. This includes 8 countries in Africa.

There are also 7 observer states. These countries can join some meetings. However, they do not have voting rights.

When Members are Suspended

Sometimes, a country's membership in the Arab League can be put on hold.

• Egypt was suspended in 1979. This happened after it signed a peace treaty with Israel. The League's main office moved from Cairo to Tunis, Tunisia. In 1989, Egypt was allowed back into the League. The office moved back to Cairo in 1990.
• Libya was suspended in 2011 during a civil war. Its membership was restored later that year.
• Syria was suspended in 2011 because of its civil war. In 2013, the League gave Syria's seat to the Syrian opposition group. In 2023, Syria's membership was brought back.

How the Arab League Works

Headquarters of the Arab League, Cairo.

     Recognition of both Israel and Palestinian State      Recognition of Palestinian State only

Administrative divisions in the Arab League.

The Arab League is a political group. It tries to help its members work together on money matters. It also helps solve problems between them. This is done without needing help from outside countries.

The League's rules say that Arab countries should work as one big "Arab nation." But they also respect that each country is independent. Leaders often want to keep their own power. This can make it hard for the League to become more deeply connected.

The League wanted to include the Arabs of Palestine from the start. An extra part of the agreement said that Palestine should have a delegate in the League. This would happen until Palestine became truly independent.

In 1964, the Arab League helped create an organization for the Palestinian people. This group was called the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Today, State of Palestine is a full member of the Arab League.

In 2002, the League adopted the Arab Peace Initiative. This was a plan for peace between Arab countries and Israel. It offered full normal relations with Israel. In return, Israel would need to leave certain areas. It would also need to recognize an independent Palestinian state. This state would have East Jerusalem as its capital. The plan also asked for a fair solution for Palestinian refugees.

The Arab League is part of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). This group started in 2004. It helps Arab countries and China work together on many projects. These include railways and nuclear power.

In 2015, the Arab League supported Saudi Arabia's military action in Yemen. This was against certain groups there. In 2018, the League asked Turkey to leave Afrin in northern Syria. In 2019, they spoke out against plans to take over parts of the West Bank. In October 2019, the League condemned Turkey's actions in north-eastern Syria. They called it an "invasion" against an Arab state.

In 2020, the Arab League did not condemn the UAE's decision to make peace with Israel. However, the Secretary-General said that all Arab countries want to end the occupation and create an independent Palestinian state. In 2024, the Arab League supported South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Meetings of Leaders (Summits)

The Arab League holds meetings where leaders from member countries come together. These are called summits. They discuss important issues and make decisions.

No.	Date	Host Country	Host City
1	13–17 January 1964	United Arab Republic	Cairo
2	5–11 September 1964	United Arab Republic	Alexandria
3	13–17 September 1965	Morocco	Casablanca
4	29 August 1967	Sudan	Khartoum
5	21–23 December 1969	Morocco	Rabat
6	26–28 November 1973	Algeria	Algiers
7	29 October 1974	Morocco	Rabat
8	25–26 October 1976	Egypt	Cairo
9	2–5 November 1978	Iraq	Baghdad
10	20–22 November 1979	Tunisia	Tunis
11	21–22 November 1980	Jordan	Amman
12	6–9 September 1982	Morocco	Fes
13	1985	Morocco	Casablanca
14	1987	Jordan	Amman
15	June 1988	Algeria	Algiers
16	1989	Morocco	Casablanca
17	1990	Iraq	Baghdad
18	1996	Egypt	Cairo
19	27–28 March 2001	Jordan	Amman
20	27–28 March 2002	Lebanon	Beirut
21	1 March 2003	Egypt	Sharm el-Sheikh
22	22–23 May 2004	Tunisia	Tunis
23	22–23 March 2005	Algeria	Algiers
24	28–30 March 2006	Sudan	Khartoum
25	27–28 March 2007	Saudi Arabia	Riyadh
26	29–30 March 2008	Syria	Damascus
27	28–30 March 2009	Qatar	Doha
28	27–28 March 2010	Libya	Sirte
29	27–29 March 2012	Iraq	Baghdad
30	21–27 March 2013	Qatar	Doha
31	25–26 March 2014	Kuwait	Kuwait City
32	28–29 March 2015	Egypt	Sharm El Sheikh
33	20 July 2016	Mauritania	Nouakchott
34	23–29 March 2017	Jordan	Amman
35	15 April 2018	Saudi Arabia	Dhahran
36	31 March 2019	Tunisia	Tunis
37	1 November 2022	Algeria	Algiers
38	19 May 2023	Saudi Arabia	Jeddah
39	16 May 2024	Bahrain	Manama

Emergency Summits

Sometimes, leaders meet quickly for urgent issues. These are called emergency summits.

No.	Date	Host Country	Host City
1	21–27 September 1970	Egypt	Cairo
2	17–28 October 1976	Saudi Arabia	Riyadh
3	7–9 September 1985	Morocco	Casablanca
4	8–12 November 1987	Jordan	Amman
5	7–9 June 1988	Algeria	Algiers
6	23–26 June 1989	Morocco	Casablanca
7	28–30 May 1990	Iraq	Baghdad
8	9–10 August 1990	Egypt	Cairo
9	22–23 June 1996	Egypt	Cairo
10	21–22 October 2000	Egypt	Cairo
11	7 January 2016	Saudi Arabia	Riyadh
12	11 November 2023	Saudi Arabia	Riyadh

Military Cooperation

The Joint Defence Council of the Arab League helps coordinate defense for its member countries. It was set up in 1950.

The Arab League itself does not have its own army, like the United Nations. But in 2007, leaders decided to create a peacekeeping force. This force could be sent to places like South Lebanon or Darfur. In 2015, member countries agreed to form a joint military force.

Economic Resources and Trade

The Arab League region has many valuable resources. Some member countries have huge amounts of oil and natural gas.

Economic cooperation between member countries has been less strong than in smaller Arab groups. An example is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). However, some big projects are underway. The Arab Gas Pipeline will carry gas from Egypt and Iraq to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. There is also a free trade agreement called GAFTA. It aims to make 95% of Arab products tax-free by 2008.

OAPEC Members

The southern part of Sudan has very fertile land. It is sometimes called the "food basket" of the Arab World. The region's tourism industry is growing fast. Countries like Egypt, UAE, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Jordan are leaders in tourism. The telecommunications industry is also growing steadily.

How Transport Connects the Region

The Arab League region has different ways of transport. The Arabian Peninsula and the Near East are well connected. They have good air, sea, road, and railway links.

The Nile Valley, which includes Egypt and Sudan, is working to improve river travel. This will help with trade. A new railway system is also planned. It will connect cities in southern Egypt and northern Sudan.

In the Maghreb region, a long railway runs for 3,000 km. It goes from southern Morocco to Tripoli in western Libya.

The Horn of Africa includes Djibouti and Somalia. These countries are close to the Arabian Peninsula. There are plans for a huge bridge, the Bridge of the Horns. This bridge would connect the Horn of Africa with the Arabian Peninsula. It aims to make trade between the two regions much faster.

The Comoros are islands off the coast of East Africa. They are not physically connected to other Arab states. But they still trade with other Arab League members.

Education and Literacy

Literacy means being able to read and write. Countries collect data on literacy in different ways. Some ask people if they can read and write. Others look at how many years people went to school. Because of these differences, literacy numbers should be looked at carefully. The Persian Gulf region has had an oil boom. This has helped more schools and universities to be built.

Rank	Country	Literacy rate
1	Qatar	97.3
2	Palestine	96.5
3	Kuwait	96.3
4	Bahrain	95.7
5	Jordan	95.4
6	Saudi Arabia	94.4
7	Lebanon	93.9
8	United Arab Emirates	93.8
9	Oman	91.1
10	Libya	91
11	Syria	86.4
12	Iraq	85.7
13	Tunisia	81.8
14	Comoros	81.8
15	Algeria	80.2
16	Sudan	75.9
17	Egypt	73.8
18	Yemen	70.1
19	Djibouti	70.0
20	Morocco	68.5
21	Mauritania	52.1
22	Somalia	44–72

People and Cultures

Most people in the Arab League are Arabs. But there are also many other groups living there. These include Berbers, Kurds, Somalis, and Assyrians. Each group has its own unique culture, languages, and traditions. As of 2013, about 359 million people lived in Arab League countries. The population is growing faster than in many other parts of the world. Egypt is the most populated member country, with over 100 million people. The Comoros is the least populated, with about 850,000 people.

Rank	Country	Population	Density (/km2)	Density (sq mi)	Notes
1	Egypt	104,635,983	110	285
2	Sudan	49,197,555	16	41
3	Iraq	45,318,011	85	220
4	Algeria	44,700,000	16	41
5	Morocco	37,984,655	71	184
6	Yemen	34,277,612	45	117
7	Saudi Arabia	32,175,224	12	31
8	Syria	22,125,249	118	306
9	Somalia	17,066,000	18	47
10	Tunisia	11,708,370	65	168
11	Jordan	11,180,568	71	184
12	United Arab Emirates	9,269,612	99	256
13	Libya	7,054,493	3.8	9.8
14	Lebanon	5,296,814	404	1,046
15	Palestine	5,227,193	756	1,958
16	Mauritania	4,614,974	3.2	8.3
17	Oman	4,520,471	9.2	24
18	Kuwait	4,294,621	200	518
19	Qatar	2,795,484	154	399
20	Bahrain	1,463,265	1,646	4,263
21	Djibouti	957,273	37	96
22	Comoros	850,886	309	800
Total	Arab League	462,940,089	30.4	78.7

Religion in the Arab League

Most people in the Arab League follow Islam. Christianity is the second largest religion. There are at least 15 million Christians in countries like Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, and Syria. There are also smaller groups like Druze and Yazidis.

Languages Spoken

The official language of the Arab League is Literary Arabic. This is based on Classical Arabic. However, many member countries also have other official or national languages. These include Somali, Afar, Comorian, French, English, Berber, and Kurdish. In most countries, people speak a local Arabic dialect that is different from the official Literary Arabic.

Culture and Sports

Sports in the Arab League

The Pan-Arab Games are the biggest sports event in the Arab world. Athletes from all Arab countries compete in many different sports.

The Union of Arab Football Associations organizes football tournaments. These include the FIFA Arab Cup for national teams and the Arab Club Champions Cup for clubs. There are also Arab sports groups for other games. These include basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, tennis, squash, and swimming.

See Also

In Spanish: Liga Árabe para niños