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
water: 0 sq km
land: 17,820 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: 0.73%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 99.16% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 60 sq km (1998 est.) |
| 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, 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
Source: CIA World Factbook
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