Qatar Geography Profile 2008

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references

Middle East

Area

total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries

total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline

563 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

Climate

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

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: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)

Irrigated land

130 sq km (2002)

Total renewable water resources

0.1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits