Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Area

total: 83,600 sq km
country 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
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

Current Weather
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
more

Terrain

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas

Land use

arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 96.96% (2005)

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

Source CIA The World Factbook - United Arab Emirates