Middle East > United Arab Emirates > United Arab Emirates Geography Profile 2011

United Arab Emirates: United Arab Emirates Geography Profile 2011

2010/07/08

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:

83,600sq km

Comparison to the world:

114

Land:

83,600 sq km

Water:

0 sq km

Area comparative:

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries Total:

867 km

Land boundaries Note:

Border countries

Countries:

Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

Coastline

Value:

1,318 km

Note:

Maritime claims

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

Kind:

arable land

Percentage:

0,77%

Year:

2005

Kind:

permanent crops

Percentage:

2,27%

Kind:

other

Percentage:

96,96%

Irrigated land

Value:

760 sq km

Year:

2003

Total renewable water resources

Value:

0.2 cu km

Year:

1997

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

Total:

2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)

Per capital:

511 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Geography note:

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

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