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Saudi Arabia vs. Qatar

Geography

Saudi ArabiaQatar
LocationMiddle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of YemenMiddle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates25 00 N, 45 00 E25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map referencesMiddle EastMiddle East
Areatotal: 2,149,690 sq km

land: 2,149,690 sq km

water: 0 sq km
total: 11,586 sq km

land: 11,586 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparativeslightly more than one-fifth the size of the USalmost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundariestotal: 4,272 km

border countries (7): Iraq 811 km, Jordan 731 km, Kuwait 221 km, Oman 658 km, Qatar 87 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1307 km
total: 87 km

border countries (1): Saudi Arabia 87 km
Coastline2,640 km563 km
Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 18 nm

continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Climateharsh, dry desert with great temperature extremesarid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrainmostly sandy desertmostly flat and barren desert
Elevation extremeshighest point: As Sarawat range, 3,000 m

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

mean elevation: 665 m
highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

mean elevation: 28 m
Natural resourcespetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copperpetroleum, fish, natural gas
Land useagricultural land: 80.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 0.5% (2018 est.)

other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: 5.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 94.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land16,200 sq km (2012)130 sq km (2012)
Natural hazards

frequent sand and dust storms

volcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issuesdesertification; 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; air pollution; waste managementair, land, and water pollution are significant environmental issues; limited natural freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities; other issues include conservation of oil supplies and preservation of the natural wildlife heritage
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

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

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - noteSaudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canalthe peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
Total renewable water resources2.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)58 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Population distributionhistorically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east, through Riyadh in the interior, to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Seamost of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula

Source: CIA Factbook