The term 'AREA WEST OF THE GULF OF AQABA' can be summarized by the crossword solution 'SINAI', which is a peninsula located in the northeastern corner of Egypt. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, and the Gulf of Aqaba to the south. The area west of the Gulf of Aqaba is known as the SINAI Peninsula, and it is home to Mount SINAI, a mountain that is considered holy in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.