Arab world facts · Fact file
The 22 Arab League Countries: Capitals, Currencies and Facts
The League of Arab States brings together 22 members stretching from Mauritania on the Atlantic to Oman on the Arabian Sea. This guide lists every member with its capital, currency, calling code, official languages and the year it joined, so you can compare them at a glance.
Quick answer
The Arab League has 22 members: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. It was founded in Cairo on 22 March 1945 and its headquarters is in Cairo.
Key takeaways
- The Arab League was founded in Cairo on 22 March 1945; seven states count as founding members.
- It has 22 members today; Comoros was the last to join, in 1993.
- Arabic is an official language in all 22 members, often alongside another language.
- Every member state drives on the right.
- Syria’s membership was suspended in 2011 and restored in 2023.
22 countries
-
Algeria
Maghreb
- Capital
- Algiers
- Currency
- Algerian dinar (DZD)
- Official languages
- Arabic, Tamazight
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +213
- Internet domain
- .dz
Member since 1962
Read more ↗ -
Bahrain
Arabian Peninsula
- Capital
- Manama
- Currency
- Bahraini dinar (BHD)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +973
- Internet domain
- .bh
Member since 1971
Read more ↗ -
Comoros
Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean
- Capital
- Moroni
- Currency
- Comorian franc (KMF)
- Official languages
- Comorian, Arabic, French
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +269
- Internet domain
- .km
Member since 1993
The most recent country to join the League, in 1993.
Read more ↗ -
Djibouti
Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean
- Capital
- Djibouti
- Currency
- Djiboutian franc (DJF)
- Official languages
- Arabic, French
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +253
- Internet domain
- .dj
Member since 1977
Read more ↗ -
Egypt
Nile Valley
- Capital
- Cairo
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +20
- Internet domain
- .eg
Member since 1945
A founding member. Egypt was suspended from 1979 to 1989, and the League’s headquarters moved to Tunis during that time.
Read more ↗ -
Iraq
Levant and Iraq (Mashriq)
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Currency
- Iraqi dinar (IQD)
- Official languages
- Arabic, Kurdish
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +964
- Internet domain
- .iq
Member since 1945
A founding member.
Read more ↗ -
Jordan
Levant and Iraq (Mashriq)
- Capital
- Amman
- Currency
- Jordanian dinar (JOD)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +962
- Internet domain
- .jo
Member since 1945
A founding member, which joined as Transjordan.
Read more ↗ -
Kuwait
Arabian Peninsula
- Capital
- Kuwait City
- Currency
- Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +965
- Internet domain
- .kw
Member since 1961
Read more ↗ -
Lebanon
Levant and Iraq (Mashriq)
- Capital
- Beirut
- Currency
- Lebanese pound (LBP)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +961
- Internet domain
- .lb
Member since 1945
A founding member.
Read more ↗ -
Libya
Maghreb
- Capital
- Tripoli
- Currency
- Libyan dinar (LYD)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +218
- Internet domain
- .ly
Member since 1953
Briefly suspended in 2011, then readmitted later that year.
Read more ↗ -
Mauritania
Maghreb
- Capital
- Nouakchott
- Currency
- Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +222
- Internet domain
- .mr
Member since 1973
Read more ↗ -
Morocco
Maghreb
- Capital
- Rabat
- Currency
- Moroccan dirham (MAD)
- Official languages
- Arabic, Amazigh (Tamazight)
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +212
- Internet domain
- .ma
Member since 1958
Read more ↗ -
Oman
Arabian Peninsula
- Capital
- Muscat
- Currency
- Omani rial (OMR)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +968
- Internet domain
- .om
Member since 1971
Read more ↗ -
Palestine
Levant and Iraq (Mashriq)
- Capital
- Jerusalem (proclaimed), Ramallah (administrative)
- Currency
- Israeli new shekel (the Jordanian dinar is also used) (ILS)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +970
- Internet domain
- .ps
Member since 1976
Admitted in 1976 through the Palestine Liberation Organization; the seat is now held by the State of Palestine. Palestine has no currency of its own.
Read more ↗ -
Qatar
Arabian Peninsula
- Capital
- Doha
- Currency
- Qatari riyal (QAR)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +974
- Internet domain
- .qa
Member since 1971
Read more ↗ -
Saudi Arabia
Arabian Peninsula
- Capital
- Riyadh
- Currency
- Saudi riyal (SAR)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +966
- Internet domain
- .sa
Member since 1945
A founding member.
Read more ↗ -
Somalia
Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean
- Capital
- Mogadishu
- Currency
- Somali shilling (SOS)
- Official languages
- Somali, Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +252
- Internet domain
- .so
Member since 1974
Read more ↗ -
Sudan
Nile Valley
- Capital
- Khartoum
- Currency
- Sudanese pound (SDG)
- Official languages
- Arabic, English
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +249
- Internet domain
- .sd
Member since 1956
Read more ↗ -
Syria
Levant and Iraq (Mashriq)
- Capital
- Damascus
- Currency
- Syrian pound (SYP)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +963
- Internet domain
- .sy
Member since 1945
A founding member. Syria’s membership was suspended from 2011 to 2023. A redenominated pound, with two zeros removed, entered circulation in January 2026.
Read more ↗ -
Tunisia
Maghreb
- Capital
- Tunis
- Currency
- Tunisian dinar (TND)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +216
- Internet domain
- .tn
Member since 1958
Tunis hosted the League’s headquarters from 1979 to 1990.
Read more ↗ -
United Arab Emirates
Arabian Peninsula
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- Currency
- UAE dirham (AED)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +971
- Internet domain
- .ae
Member since 1971
Read more ↗ -
Yemen
Arabian Peninsula
- Capital
- Sanaa
- Currency
- Yemeni rial (YER)
- Official languages
- Arabic
- Local time
- --:--
- Calling code
- +967
- Internet domain
- .ye
Member since 1945
A founding member (as North Yemen). Sanaa is the constitutional capital, while the internationally recognized government has worked from Aden during the war.
Read more ↗
What the Arab League is
The League of Arab States is a regional organization founded in Cairo on 22 March 1945. Its aim is to strengthen ties between members and coordinate their political, economic, cultural and social policies, while respecting each state’s sovereignty. Its headquarters is in Cairo, and its main decisions are taken by the Council of the League, where each member has one vote.
Membership grew as countries gained independence, from Libya in 1953 to the Gulf states in 1971 and Comoros in 1993.
The regions of the Arab world
The Arab world is often described in a few broad regions. The Arabian Peninsula includes Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the Gulf states. The Mashriq covers the Levant and Iraq. Egypt and Sudan share the Nile Valley, while the Maghreb runs across North Africa from Libya to Mauritania. Djibouti, Somalia and Comoros sit on the Horn of Africa and in the Indian Ocean, linking the Arab world with East Africa.
One language, many dialects
Arabic is the thread that ties the League together. Modern Standard Arabic is used for news, schooling, official documents and most writing, so a newspaper from Rabat can be read in Muscat. Daily speech is another matter: people talk in local dialects such as Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf or Moroccan Darija, which can differ a lot in vocabulary and pronunciation. Many members also give official status to other languages, including Tamazight, Kurdish, Somali, French and English.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in the Arab League?
The Arab League has 22 members: 21 sovereign states plus Palestine, which is represented by the State of Palestine. Twelve are in western Asia and ten are in Africa.
Which countries founded the Arab League?
The League was founded on 22 March 1945 in Cairo by Egypt, Iraq, Jordan (then Transjordan), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Yemen signed the founding pact later that spring and is counted among the founding members.
Where is the Arab League headquarters?
The headquarters is in Cairo, Egypt. It moved to Tunis between 1979 and 1990, after Egypt was suspended over its peace treaty with Israel, and returned to Cairo once Egypt was readmitted.
Is Arabic the only official language in Arab League countries?
No. Arabic is official everywhere, but several members share official status with other languages. Examples include Tamazight in Algeria and Morocco, Kurdish in Iraq, Somali in Somalia, French in Djibouti and Comoros, and English in Sudan.
Which country joined the Arab League most recently?
Comoros, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, joined in 1993. It was preceded by Djibouti in 1977 and Palestine in 1976.
Sources
- Member states of the Arab League (Wikipedia)
- Arab League (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- Syrian pound (Wikipedia)
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