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Geography of United Arab Emirates

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)
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

United Arab Emirates Quickstats

  • Population: 4,444,011
  • Area: 83,600 sq km
  • Density: 64 /km² (143rd)
  • GDP (total): $129.3 billion (55th)
  • GDP (per capita): $29,142 (24th)
  • Literacy: 77.9%

Languages of United Arab Emirates

Useful to know

  • Currency: UAE dirham (AED)
  • Dial code: +971

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