Here are the capitals of Southwest Asia. Two countries have well-known cities that are not their capitals, and two capitals are a matter of dispute.
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Türkiye | Ankara |
| Georgia | Tbilisi |
| Armenia | Yerevan |
| Azerbaijan | Baku |
| Cyprus | Nicosia |
| Syria | Damascus |
| Lebanon | Beirut |
| Jordan | Amman |
| Iraq | Baghdad |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh |
| Bahrain | Manama |
| Qatar | Doha |
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi |
| Oman | Muscat |
| Yemen | Sanaa (see the note) |
Key idea
Ankara (Türkiye), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Baghdad (Iraq), Damascus (Syria), Amman (Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Doha (Qatar), Muscat (Oman) and Sanaa (Yemen), plus the Caucasus capitals Tbilisi, Yerevan and Baku.
Why it works
Türkiye chose Ankara, in the middle of Anatolia, as its capital in 1923, instead of Istanbul, the old imperial city on the Bosporus. Two capitals are disputed, so they are taught here but not quizzed: Israel designates Jerusalem as its capital, but its status is disputed; some countries recognize it, and many keep their embassies in Tel Aviv. Palestine names East Jerusalem as its capital, and its government offices are in Ramallah. For Yemen, Sanaa is the capital named in its constitution; the internationally recognized government has also worked from Aden.
Worked example: Türkiye's capital
Istanbul is Türkiye's largest city. What is the capital?
- Istanbul is the biggest and best-known city, on the Bosporus.
- The capital is Ankara, in the middle of the country.
Answer: Ankara.
Worked example: The Emirates
Dubai is the best-known city of the United Arab Emirates. What is the capital?
- The UAE is made of seven emirates.
- The capital is Abu Dhabi.
Answer: Abu Dhabi.
Common mistake
People say Istanbul for Türkiye or Dubai for the United Arab Emirates. The capitals are Ankara and Abu Dhabi. A famous city is not always the capital.