General Information » United Arab Emirates Overview » Geography

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is situated at the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, and with coastlines on both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The country is made up of seven different emirates – Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. Abu Dhabi is by far the largest emirate, occupying over 80% of the country. With an area of 3,885 square kilometres, the emirate of Dubai is the second largest.

The coast is littered with coral reefs and over 200 islands, most of which are uninhabited. The interior of the country is characterised by sabkha (salt flats), stretches of gravel plain, and vast areas of desert. However, to the east, rise the Hajar Mountains (‘hajar’ is Arabic for rock). Lying close to the Gulf of Oman, they form a backbone through the country, from the Mussandam Peninsula in the north, through the eastern UAE and into Oman. The highest point is Jebel Yibir at 1,527 metres. The Rub Al Khali, or Empty Quarter, occupies a large part of the south of the country. Common to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen, it is the largest sand desert in the world, covering an area roughly the same size as France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Rub Al Khali consists of stark desert, salt flats, occasional oases, and spectacular sand dunes that rise to well over 300 metres.

The emirate of Dubai is of course best known for its modern, rapidly expanding city, but visitors will also find a landscape that varies from vast stretches of desert to rugged mountains.





Coordinates – 24º00´North 54º00´ East.

Land borders – 410km with Oman and 457km with Saudi Arabia

Total land area – approx. 83,000 sq km

Total coastline - 1,318 km

Highest point – Jebel Yibir 1,527 m

Lowest point – Coastlines with Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman





Total land area – 3,885 sq km

Total coastline – c. 60km, but new offshore projects will add over 1000km.