Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
Total: 11,586 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 165
Land: 11,586 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: Tuwayyir al Hamir 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)
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
Per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)
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
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