Backpacking across the Middle East?

I would suggest you try 2 or 3 countries as there is so much to see rather than go to every one and see nothing. For example Turkey Syria and Lebanon. By and large very safe, people friendly but you might get culture shock on your own. English quite common but less so in remote areas. Few cheap hotels of european standard, so you might be staying in some peculiar places. UAE I would miss but Iran (expensive I'm told) but very interesting.