United Arab Emirates Geography:
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:
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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea (not ratified)
Geography - Note:
Strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil |
