- (loosely) the area from Libya east to Afghanistan, usually including Egypt, Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the other countries of Arabia.
- (formerly) the area including Iran, Afghanistan, India, Tibet, and Myanmar (Burma).
- (loosely) the area around the E Mediterranean, esp Israel and the Arab countries from Turkey to North Africa and eastwards to Iran
- (formerly) the area extending from the Tigris and Euphrates to Myanmar
