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:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
2,149,690 sq km
country comparison to the world: 13
land:
2,149,690 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area comparison map:
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
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
2,640 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
contiguous zone:
18 nm
continental shelf:
not specified
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
More Climate Details
mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point:
Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
arable land:
1.45%
permanent crops:
0.11%
other:
98.44% (2011)
16,200 sq km (2004)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
2.4 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
23.67 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%)
per capita:
928.1 cu m/yr (2006)
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
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
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
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal