By many standards, Western Asia remains economically undeveloped.  However, industrialization and mechanization are proceeding quickly and transforming not just the region's economy, but its environment as well.

Industrialization is rapidly occurring in many West Asian countries.  Industries such as tourism are also growing, often near the coastal areas.

Another major industry that is being transformed by modernization is agriculture.  Growing markets for agricultural products are causing many farmers to expand the area they cultivate, which often means moving onto poorer land.  Operating on marginal lands can in turn degrade the quality of the land.

Other changes in agriculture include the introduction of pesticides and fertilizers.  These chemicals get into the local environment, polluting water bodies and native ecosystems and affecting the food chain.

The largest industry in Western Asia is oil.  In fact, just about every country in the region has an economy based around oil production.

Among the industries that deal with oil are oil and gas exploration, refining, petrochemicals industries, and oil transportation.  Thousands of miles of oil pipelines connect hundreds of offshore oil wells in Western Asia.

Marine environments are the most adversely affected by oil-based industries.  Pipelines and wells often leak oil into the water.  In addition, industries that process oil on shore often dump oily sludge into the sea without treating it.