What bodies of water are important transportation corridors in the middle east?

* One of the world's most important shipping lanes

* Connects the Middle East with Europe, Asia, and Africa

* Major ports include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Bandar Abbas

Red Sea

* Connects the Middle East with Europe and Africa

* Major ports include Jeddah, Port Sudan, and Suez

* Also home to the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest shipping canals

Mediterranean Sea

* Connects the Middle East with Europe and North Africa

* Major ports include Alexandria, Beirut, and Haifa

Black Sea

* Connects the Middle East with Eastern Europe and Russia

* Major ports include Istanbul, Odessa, and Novorossiysk

Caspian Sea

* A large inland sea located in the Middle East

* Not directly connected to any other ocean, but is accessible through the Volga-Don Canal

* Major ports include Baku, Astrakhan, and Aktau