| Location | Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia |
|
| Geographic coordinates | 29 30 N, 45 45 E |
|
| Zone | Middle East |
|
| Area | total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
|
| 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 |
|
| Irrigated land | 499 km |
|
| 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 |
|
