The UAE is situated in the heart of the Arab Gulf. it bordered from the North and the North West by the Gulf and from the West by Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and from the South by the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and from the East by the Gulf of Oman and the Sultanate of Oman. The coastline overlooking the Southern coasts of the Arab Gulf extends over 644 Km from the Qatar peninsula to the west up to the Head of Masendem to the East where the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Um Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah are situated. The coastline of the seventh Emirate, Al Fujairah, extends along the coast of Oman for 90 km. The state occupies the area between 22 and 26.5° N and 51 and 56.5°E.

The UAE occupies a strategic location that still retains the importance it had 4000 years ago despite the fact that the world has become a small village due to modern technology and the telecommunication revolution. Most of the UAE is an arid desert land particularly in the inner western region. There are many famous oases in that desert region like Al-Ain oasis that utilizes the groundwater, available due to the presence of Hafit Mountain, through an irrigation network known as “Aflage”. The same goes for Liwa situated 200 km west of Al-Ain and comprises more than 60 villages besides the rich graze land in Dhafra area that abounds in groundwater. Most of the UAE coastlines are sandy except for the northern region in Ras Al Khaimah that forms the jagged mountain “Hajar”. Territorial water is generally shallow, which is a feature of the Arab Gulf coastlines. The UAE territorial water abounds in fringing coral reefs that forms natural impediments to navigation. It is also rich in pearl oyster which was the main source of income for this land. There are many islands and small sandy islets including 200 islands for the emirate of Abu Dhabi the most important of which is the island of Sir Bani Yass which was made into a green haven and a natural preservative for rare animals.