Abstract. The region demonstrated quite contradictory dynamics in 2024. On the one hand, there was a significant escalation of violence. Besides the Gaza Strip, fighting also engulfed southern Lebanon and part of the Red Sea, and Israel and Iran exchanged missile strikes, provoking speculation about a major regional war. On the other hand, two positive trends persisted: détente between the GCC monarchies and Iran and the Arab–Turkey rapprochement. This prevented the Middle East from turning into a zone of a comprehensive crisis, despite alarmist forecasts. In a landmark shift two major Arab states – the UAE and Egypt – joined the BRICS, the key forum of the Global South. The region’s economy demonstrated positive dynamics, however, the growth rate remained relatively low, partially due to the negative consequences of the ongoing conflicts.