Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 94% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment—international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography—note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major petroleum deposits