Editing Geography of Qatar (section)

===Maritime claims===
Qatar's maritime boundaries include a contiguous zone of {{convert|24|nmi|km mi|abbr=on|1|lk=in}}, an [[exclusive economic zone]] of {{convert|31,590|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}} as determined by bilateral agreements, and {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}} of territorial sea. Maritime boundaries were ratified in April 1992 with Decree No. 40.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bugajski|first1=Dariusz R.|url=https://journals.pan.pl/Content/93397/mainfile.pdf|title=The Persian Gulf in the Light of the Law of the Sea|journal=Prawo Morskie|issue=XXXII|page=32|year=2016|issn=0860-7338}}</ref> The exclusive economic zone was declared in 1974.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bugajski|first1=Dariusz R.|url=https://journals.pan.pl/Content/93397/mainfile.pdf|title=The Persian Gulf in the Light of the Law of the Sea|journal=Prawo Morskie|issue=XXXII|page=26|year=2016|issn=0860-7338}}</ref>

Situated on the western shore of the [[Persian Gulf]], the Qatari promontory extends longitudinally into the waters, affording it a strategic position for the interception of rain-bearing winds and the regulation of maritime currents in the south-western basin of the Persian Gulf. The extended coastline facilitates the exploitation of [[pearl]] banks and piscatorial resources while also providing access to subaqueous [[Petroleum reservoir|petroleum deposits]].<ref name="qencyclopedia"/> Aside from hosting large numbers of pearl beds yielding high quality pearls,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/hb_result.php?country=qt&page=1|title=The pearling industry in Qatar|publisher=Museum With No Frontiers|accessdate=20 July 2024}}</ref> Qatari waters also host 48% of the [[coral reef]]s in the Persian Gulf.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/17/10/2022/qatar-home-to-48-of-coral-reefs-in-arabian-gulf|title=Qatar home to 48% of coral reefs in Arabian Gulf|publisher=The Peninsula Qatar|date=17 October 2022|accessdate=21 May 2024}}</ref>

The Qatari coast is further distinguished by its manifold indentations, comprising both convex protrusions of land into the sea, such as [[Ras Laffan]], and concave incursions of water into the terrestrial mass. Moreover, the littoral serves as a natural harbour and transit point for numerous vessels plying the waters of the Persian Gulf.<ref name="qencyclopedia"/>