| Location: |
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia |
| Geographic coordinates: |
25 30 N, 51 15 E |
| Map references: |
Middle East |
| Area: |
total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Connecticut |
| Land boundaries: |
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km |
| Coastline: |
563 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line |
| Climate: |
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
| Terrain: |
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m |
| Natural resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, fish |
| Land use: |
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
130 sq km (2002) |
| Natural hazards: |
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common |
| Environment - current issues: |
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note: |
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits |
