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: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements: Geography - note:
total: 17,818 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 158
land:
17,818 sq km
water:
0 sq km
slightly smaller than New Jersey
total: 462 km
border countries:
Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
499 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: 12 nm
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
More Climate Details
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point:
unnamed elevation 306 m
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
arable land: 0.84%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops:
0.17%
other:
98.99% (2005)
100 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
0.02 cu km (1997)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita:
164 cu m/yr (2000)
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
limited natural freshwater resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
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
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf