▁pan - A rab ism . ▁The ▁departure ▁of ▁the ▁European ▁powers ▁from ▁direct ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁region , ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁Israel , ▁and ▁the ▁increasing ▁importance ▁of ▁the ▁pet role um ▁industry , ▁marked ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁modern ▁Middle ▁East . ▁In ▁most ▁Middle ▁Eastern ▁countries , ▁the ▁growth ▁of ▁market ▁econom ies ▁was ▁in hib ited ▁by ▁political ▁restrictions , ▁cor ruption ▁and ▁cron y ism , ▁o vers p ending ▁on ▁arms ▁and ▁prest ige ▁projects , ▁and ▁over - dep end ence ▁on ▁oil ▁reven ues . ▁The ▁wealth iest ▁econom ies ▁in ▁the ▁region ▁per ▁cap ita ▁are ▁the ▁small ▁oil - rich ▁countries ▁of ▁Pers ian ▁G ulf : ▁Q atar , ▁K uw ait , ▁Bah rain , ▁and ▁the ▁United ▁Arab ▁Em ir ates . ▁ ▁A ▁combination ▁of ▁factors — am ong ▁them ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁Six - Day ▁War , ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁energy ▁crisis ▁beginning ▁with ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁O PE C ▁oil ▁embargo ▁in ▁response ▁to ▁U . S . ▁support ▁of ▁Israel ▁in ▁the ▁Y om ▁K ipp ur ▁War , ▁the ▁concurrent ▁Sa udi - led ▁popular ization ▁of ▁Sal af ism / W ah hab ism , ▁and ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 8 - 7 9 ▁Iran ian ▁Revolution — prom oted ▁the ▁increasing ▁rise ▁of ▁Islam ism ▁and ▁the ▁on going ▁Islam ic ▁rev ival ▁( T aj did ). ▁The ▁Fall ▁of ▁the