Geography

Qatar is a small; narrow, almost flame-like peninsular nation pointed directly at the North Pole. The geography of Qatar places It on the southwest coast of the Arabian Gulf, adjacent to and east of Saudi Arabia, northwest of the United Arab Emirates and south of Iran. The tiny island nation of Bahrain lies just off the coast to the northwest. Qatar has a total land area of 11,437 square kilometers (7106 square miles).

The capital, Doha, is located on the central east coast on a sweeping harbor and is the major administrative, commercial, and population center. Other ports include Umm Said, Al Khor, and Al Wakrah. Only Doha and Umm Said are capable of handling commercial shipping, although a large port and a terminal for loading natural gas are planned at Ras Laffan, north of Al Khor. Coral reefs and shallow coastal waters make navigation difficult in areas where channels have not been dredged.