|
|
Advertisements:
GeographyLocation
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 World Ranking: 115
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
2,300 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources
0.2 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
Total 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)
Per capita 511 cu m/yr (2000) 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 SeaGeography - note
Strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Comments
Add a new comment: |
Advertisement
Members area
United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi):
 
GPS points from United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)
|
||||||||
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. However, in 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. In March 2011, about 100 Emirati activists and intellectuals posted on the Internet and sent to the government a petition calling for greater political reform, including the establishment of a parliament with full legislative powers and the further expansion of the electorate and the rights of the Federal National Council (FNC), the UAE's quasi-legislature. In an effort to stem further unrest, the government announced a multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern Emirates. In late September 2011, an FNC election - in which voting was expanded from 6,600 voters to about 12 percent of the Emirati population - was held for half of the FNC seats. The other half are appointed by the rulers of the Emirates.