Geography
Saudi Arabia is a country situated in Southwest Asia, the largest country of Arabia, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen. Its extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal. The kingdom occupies 80% of the Arabian Peninsula. A significant length of the country's southern borders with the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, are not precisely defined or marked, so the exact size of the country remains unknown.
In 2000 Saudi Arabia and Yemen signed an agreement to settle their long-running border dispute. The Saudi government estimate is 2,217,949 square kilometers. Other reputable estimates vary between 2,149,690 square kilometers and 2,240,000 square kilometers. Less than 1 % of the total area is suitable for cultivation, and in the early 1990s population distribution varied greatly among the towns of the eastern and western coastal areas, the densely populated interior oases, and the vast, almost empty deserts. The kingdom is commonly listed as the world's 14th largest state.
Saudi Arabia's geography is varied. From the humid western coastal region (Tihamah) on the Red Sea, the land rises from sea level to a peninsula-long mountain range (Jabal al-Hejaz) beyond which lies the plateau of Nejd in the center. The southwestern 'Asir region has mountains as high as 3,000 m (9,843 ft) and is known for having the greenest and freshest climate in all of the country, one that attracts many Saudis to resorts such as Abha in the summer months. The east is primarily rocky or sandy lowland continuing to the shores of the Persian Gulf. The geographically hostile Rub' al Khali ("Empty Quarter") desert along the country's imprecisely defined southern borders contains almost no life.
Mostly uninhabited, much of the nation's landmass consists of desert and semi-arid regions, with a dwindling traditional Bedouin population. In these parts of the country, vegetation is limited to weeds, xerophytic herbs and shrubs. Less than two percent of the kingdom's total area is arable land. Population centers are mainly located along the eastern and western coasts and densely populated interior oases such as Hofuf and Buraydah. In some extended areas, primarily the Rub' al-Khali and the Arabian Desert, there is no population whatsoever, although the petroleum industry has constructed planned communities there. Saudi Arabia has no permanent year-round rivers or lakes; however, its coastline extends for 2,640 km (1,640 mi) and, along the Red Sea, harbors world-class coral reefs, including the Gulf of Aqaba.
Physical Geography:
Location Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen Area 830,000 square miles (2,149,690 square kilometers) Boundaries Total: 4,431 kilometers; Border countries: Iraq, 506 miles (814 kilometers); Jordan, 462 miles (744 kilometers); Kuwait, 138 miles (222 kilometers); Oman, 420 miles (676 kilometers); Qatar, 37 miles (60 kilometers); UAE, 284 miles (457 kilometers); Yemen, 906 miles (1,458 kilometers) Coastlines 1,639 miles (2,640 kilometers), on Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Arabian Sea Climate Harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes Terrain Mostly uninhabited, sandy desert Elevation Extremes Lowest point is Persian Gulf, sea level; highest point is Jabal Sawda?, 10,279 feet (3,133 meters) above sea level Land Use Arable land, 1.67%; permanent crops, 0.09%; other, 98.24% (2005) Irrigated Land 6,253 square miles (16,200 square kilometers) (2003)
Natural Hazards Frequent sand and dust storms Natural Resources Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper.
Environmental 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.
Largest Cities by Population 2009:
City Mill.
Riyadh 6.5
Jeddah 3.9
Makkah 1.8
Medina 1.6
Al-Hasa 1.4
Dammam 1.3
Tabuk 0.8
Buraidah 0.7
Khamis Mushait 0.6
Abha 0.5
Al-Khubar 0.4