Page last updated on February 3, 2014

Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:
25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 11,586 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 166
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
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
563 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

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
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use:
arable land: 1.21%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 98.62% (2011)

Irrigated land:
129.4 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
0.06 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (39%/2%/59%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita: 376.9 cu m/yr (2005)

Natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater 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