This study examines the structure of the Middle Eastern regional system, analysing the factors driving its transformation into a multi-tiered and inherently volatile framework. By integrating international relations theory with empirical analysis, the research evaluates key determinants of regional power, highlighting the competitive and fluid nature of influence within the system. The findings suggest that persistent rivalries and external interventions sustain instability, underscoring the challenges of achieving a sustainable regional equilibrium. Employing an integrative approach that combines area studies and international relations (IR) theory, this study examines the regional power dynamics using twelve indicators to assess hard and soft power, including economic, military, and socio-political metrics. The analysis positions regional actors within a multi-tiered structure, evaluating the interplay between internal and external influences to explain the current distribution of power. The study finds that the Middle Eastern system has developed into a hierarchical yet anarchic structure, characterized by a competitive and multi-polar power distribution. Although external actors, such as the United States, continue to play pivotal roles, regional powers – including Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, and Iran – exert significant influence, leading to an inherently unstable system. This dynamic interplay fosters competition and limits cooperative stability. The findings suggest that the Middle Eastern regional system’s volatility is rooted in this unique distribution of power, where continuous struggles among actors contribute to persistent instability. Understanding these dynamics is essential for assessing future developments and potential stability within the region.