In this episode of Fun with Maps, we look at an area that has been in the news - The Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The Strait of Hormuz provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and then the Arabian Sea and the open ocean so it is one of the world's most strategically important choke points since the Portuguese were there in the 1500s.
We also look at the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which border the Strait of Hormuz along with Iran. People are often confused about the UAE, Abu Dhabi and Dubai but we clear that up. Watch.
Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization 55th Anniversary
The Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization (CAMEO) has been in existence for 55 years. C.A.M.E.O. is designed to articulate the political interest of more than 275,000 Northeastern Ohio residents of Middle Eastern Heritage, Arab Americans.
CAMEO celebrated their 55th anniversary as well as Arab American Heritage Month at a gala event on April 5, 2025.
CAMEO Board members with proclamations from Dale Miller, Patrick Kelly and Chris Ronayne
Middle Eastern Heritage - World on Stage in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation presented a World on Stage event to showcase Middle Eastern Heritage on July 22, 2023 at the Centennial Peace Plaza in the Cultural Gardens. The plaza was full and the crowd enjoyed musical performances from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Lebanon and Syria.
Dancing in the Plaza at the Middle East Heritage event
Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization Annual Picnic
The Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization (CAMEO) has been in existence for 53 years. C.A.M.E.O. is designed to articulate the political interest of more than 275,000 Northeastern Ohio residents of Middle Eastern Heritage, Arab Americans.
At their annual picnic on Sunday July 16, 2023 CAMEO welcomed friends and dozens of politicians running for office and/or there to show support for the Arab American community.
During the month of April, Arab America formally recognizes the achievements of Arab Americans through the celebration of National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM). Across the country, cultural institutions, school districts, municipalities, state legislatures, public servants, and Arab Americans will engage in special events that celebrate the community's rich heritage and numerous contributions to society.
Arab Americans have roots in 22 countries located in the Middle East and North African regions: Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. And within all those countries, there are various languages, religions, traditions that are now part of our American story. There are nearly 3.5 million Arab Americans in the United States, according to the Arab American Institute. Establishing Arab American Heritage Month was critical in combatting post-9/11 anti-Arab sentiments, and while Arab Americans still face prejudice regularly, acknowledging their fight for recognition and equality - and becoming better allies - is something we can all contribute toward.
CAMEO president Pierre Bejjani receiving Arab American Heritage Month Proclamation
Cleveland American Middle East Organization 47th anniversary
The Cleveland American Middle East Organization (CAMEO) is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian political action organization established in 1970. They celebrated their 47th anniversary and induction of new officers at a dinner event at St. Elias Cultural Center.
Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and CAMEO Board
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. Its high oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. However, in 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard.
The UAE has essentially avoided the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East, though in March 2011, political activists and intellectuals signed a petition calling for greater public participation in governance that was widely circulated on the Internet. In an effort to stem potential further unrest, the government announced a multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates and aggressively pursued advocates of political reform.
Tell us about the music, food, holidays, traditions, costumes, language and other qualities that makes people from the United Arab Emirates so special.
Profiles of Emiratis in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
If you know of a Cleveland Emirati who should be profiled, please let us know.
ClevelandPeople.Com - Emirati Ambassadors
Read more about the Emirati and other Ambassadors. If you are interested in being considered to be an official ClevelandPeople.com Ambassador to the Cleveland Emirati community, please contact us.
