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Geography


Source CIA-The World Factbook

  Geography    United Arab Emirates Top of Page
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: 83,600 sq km
land: 83,600 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:
  
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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: 0.77%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 96.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
  
760 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
  
0.2 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  
total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)
per capita: 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