Question

Why might there be such a drastic difference in the per capita GDP of these selected countries of Southwest Asia (the Middle East)?

Answer 1

Although there are numerous factors that can affect a counties GDP, especially today when the entire world is so "connected", a major reason why GDP fluctuates so much in this part of the world is that these economies rely primary on agriculture, which can be profitable one year and then not profitable the next, due to weather changes.