Final answer:
The exact number of Middle Eastern countries with shale gas reserves is unclear, but the region is recognized for its substantial oil and gas resources, with several nations likely possessing significant shale gas reserves.
Step-by-step explanation:
Considering available sources, it is challenging to define the exact number of Middle Eastern nations with shale gas reserves as exploration and evaluation are ongoing. However, several countries in the Middle East are known or believed to have significant reserves. For instance, Israel has potential shale gas reserves in offshore locations along the Mediterranean Sea. It is also widely known that the Middle Eastern region, which includes countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, the UAE, and Kuwait, holds a substantial part of the world's energy resources, especially oil. Therefore, while we can't specify an exact number, we understand that several nations in the Middle East have considerable proven reserves of oil and likely possess substantial natural gas reserves, with shale gas likely among them.