Introduction - United Arab Emirates: |
Location - United Arab Emirates: |
Location | Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia |
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Geographic coordinates | 24 00 N, 54 00 E |
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Map references | Middle East |
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Area | total: 83,600 sq km
land: 83,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area comparative | slightly smaller than Maine |
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Land boundaries | total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km |
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Coastline | 1,318 km |
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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 |
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Climate | desert; cooler in eastern mountains |
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Terrain | flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east |
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Elevation extremes | lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m |
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Natural resources | petroleum, natural gas |
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Land use | arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 96.96% (2005) |
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Irrigated land | 760 sq km (2003) |
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Natural hazards | frequent sand and dust storms |
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Environment current issues | lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills |
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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 |
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Geography note | strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil |
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People - United Arab Emirates: |
Government - United Arab Emirates: |
Economy - United Arab Emirates: |
Communications - United Arab Emirates: |
Transportation - United Arab Emirates: |
Military - United Arab Emirates: |
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007