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| Location | Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen | | | Geographic coordinates | 25 00 N, 45 00 E | | | Zone | Middle East | | | Area | total: 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km | | | Land boundaries | total: 4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km | | | Coastline | 2,640 km | | | Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified | | | Climate | harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes | | | Terrain | mostly uninhabited, sandy desert | | | Elevation extremes | lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m | | | Natural resources | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper | | | Irrigated land | 2,640 km | | | Natural hazards | frequent sand and dust storms | | Environment -
current issues | desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills | | Environment -
international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | | | Geography - note | extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal | |
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