 Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen |
Map references:
Middle East |
Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 45 00 E |
Climate:
Harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes |
Area:
Total: 2,149,690 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 14
Land: 2,149,690 sq km
Water: 0 sq km |
Terrain:
Mostly uninhabited, sandy desert |
Area - comparative:
Slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US |
Natural resources:
Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper |
Land boundaries:
Total: 4,431 km
Border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km |
Natural hazards:
Frequent sand and dust storms
Volcanism: Despite Saudi Arabia's many volcanic formations, there has been little Activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar
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Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 18 nm
Continental shelf: not specified |
Environment - current issues:
Desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills |
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m |
Environment - international agreements:
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Land use:
arable land: 1.67%
Permanent crops: 0.09%
Other: 98.24% (2005) |
Geography - note:
Extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal |
Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (2003) |
Coastline:
2,640 km |
Total renewable water resources:
2.4 cu km (1997) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%)
Per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)
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