Saudi Arabia Geography Profile 2009

Location

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

Geographic coordinates

25 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references

Middle East

Area

total: 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

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

Coastline

2,640 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Climate

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Terrain

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land use

arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2005)

Irrigated land

16,200 sq km (2003)

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)

Natural hazards

frequent sand and dust storms

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

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

Geography - note

extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal