Short facts about the geography of United Arab Emirate

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:

Middle East

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 exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 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% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  2% forests and woodland:  0% other:  98% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

50 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent sand and dust storms

Environment - current issues:

lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified:  Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Source: World Factbook