| Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia |
| Geographic coordinates: |
29 30 N, 45 45 E |
| Map references: |
Middle East |
| Area: |
total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than New Jersey |
| Land boundaries: |
total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km |
| Coastline: |
499 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm |
| Climate: |
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters |
| Terrain: |
flat to slightly undulating desert plain |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m |
| Natural resources: |
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas |
| Land use: |
arable land: 0.84%
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 98.99% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
130 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: |
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August |
| Environment - current issues: |
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification |
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping |
| Geography - note: |
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf |
