Location: Southwest Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE. Considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called "Cradle of Humanity."

Geographic coordinates:

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 309,500 km²
land: 309,500 km²
water: 0 km²

Land boundaries:
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, United Arab Emirates 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Coastline: 2,092 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Island territory: Khuriya Muriya Islands, Masirah

Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas, frankincense

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 95% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 580 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

See also : Oman