Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: no defined boundary with most of UAE, but
Administrative Line in far north
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior;
strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and
south
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal ash Sham 2,980 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble,
limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 93%
Irrigated land: 410 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil
spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust
storms in interior; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
ratified - Hazardous Wastes
Geographic note: strategic location with small foothold on
Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit
point for world crude oil