Location: | Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 24 00 N, 54 00 E |
| Map references: | Middle East |
| Area: | total: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Maine |
| Land boundaries: | total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km |
| Coastline: | 1,318 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | desert; cooler in eastern mountains |
| Terrain: | flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas |
| Land use: | arable land: 0.6%
permanent crops: 2.25%
other: 97.15% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 720 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | frequent sand and dust storms |
| Environment - current issues: | lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
| Geography - note: | strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Source: CIA World Factbook
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