The Ayyubid dynasty, founded by Saladin in 1171 CE, marked a significant shift in the medieval Middle East. Saladin, a Sunni Muslim of Kurdish origin, initially served under Nur ad-Din of Syria and played a pivotal role in battles against the Crusaders in Fatimid Egypt. Upon Nur ad-Din's death, Saladin was declared the first Sultan of Egypt by the Abbasid Caliphate. His newly established sultanate rapidly expanded, encompassing much of the Levant, Hijaz, Yemen, parts of Nubia, Tarabulus, Cyrenaica, southern Anatolia, and northern Iraq.

Following Saladin's death in 1193 CE, his sons vied for control, but ultimately his brother al-Adil became sultan in 1200 CE. The dynasty remained in power through his descendants. In the 1230s, the Syrian emirs sought independence, leading to a divided Ayyubid realm until as-Salih Ayyub reunited most of Syria by 1247 CE. However, local Muslim dynasties expelled the Ayyubids from Yemen, Hijaz, and parts of Mesopotamia.

Despite a relatively brief reign, the Ayyubids transformed the region, particularly Egypt. They shifted it from a Shi'a to a Sunni dominant force, making it a political, military, economic, and cultural hub until the Ottoman conquest in 1517. The dynasty fostered economic prosperity and intellectual activity, building numerous madrasas to strengthen Sunni Islam. The Mamluk sultanate, which followed, maintained the Ayyubid principality of Hama until 1341, continuing the legacy of Ayyubid rule in the region for 267 years.