1.4% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: dispute with Romania over continental
shelf of the Black Sea under which significant gas and oil deposits
may exist; agreed in 1997 to two-year negotiating period, after
which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of
Justice (ICJ); has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has
reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of
any other nation

Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy,
mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for
export to West; limited government eradication program; used as
transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa,
Latin America, and Turkey, and to Europe and Russia; drug-related
money laundering a minor, but growing, problem

======================================================================

@United Arab Emirates
--------------------

Geography

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian
Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 54 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

Coastline: 1,318 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand
dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms

Environment--current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach
pollution from oil spills

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but n