Strait of Hormuz Map, Geography & Location: The Complete Strategic Guide

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, forming the sole maritime exit point for the oil-rich nations of the Arabian Peninsula. Its geography — a combination of extreme narrowness, contested territorial claims, and deep navigable channels — makes it simultaneously the most valuable and most vulnerable shipping lane on earth.

Where Is the Strait of Hormuz? Exact Location

The Strait of Hormuz sits at approximately 26°N, 56°E, straddling the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. It connects:

• To the west: The Persian Gulf (also called the Arabian Gulf), bordered by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Oman
• To the east: The Gulf of Oman, which opens into the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean

The strait runs roughly northwest to southeast, with Iran’s province of Hormozgan forming the northern shoreline and the Musandam Peninsula (an exclave of Oman) forming the dramatic cliffed southern shore. The UAE also borders the southern approaches.

Strait of Hormuz Dimensions

Which Countries Border the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran (Northern Shore)

Iran’s Hormozgan Province forms the entire northern coastline of the Strait. The major Iranian city of Bandar Abbas — Iran’s largest port — sits directly on the Strait at the narrowest point. The nearby island of Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf and hosts significant IRGC naval infrastructure. Iran’s coastline is dominated by the Zagros Mountain range, whose peaks provide commanding elevated positions overlooking the shipping lanes — the same positions where IRGC anti-ship missile batteries are stationed.

Oman — Musandam Peninsula (Southern Shore)

The southern shore is dominated by the Musandam Peninsula, a dramatic exclave of Oman that is geographically separated from mainland Oman by UAE territory. The Musandam is essentially an archipelago of fjord-like inlets and sheer limestone cliffs rising directly from the sea. Because the shipping lanes hug the southern edge of the Strait to avoid Iranian shoals, virtually all commercial transit passes through Omani territorial waters. Oman’s strategic neutrality in regional conflicts has historically been essential to keeping the Strait open.

United Arab Emirates (Southeast Approaches)

The UAE’s territory of Ras al-Khaimah borders the southeastern approaches to the Strait. The UAE also has major facilities at Fujairah — a port located just outside the Strait on the Gulf of Oman side — which serves as the key alternative export terminal for UAE oil via the Habshan-Fujairah bypass pipeline.

The Disputed Islands: Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb

Three islands at the mouth of the Strait — Abu Musa, Greater Tunb (Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg), and Lesser Tunb (Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek) — have been the subject of a unresolved territorial dispute between Iran and the UAE since 1971. The strategic significance is enormous:

• All three islands sit directly astride the main shipping lanes
• Iran seized Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb by military force in November 1971, one day before the UAE’s independence
• Abu Musa was jointly administered under a 1971 Memorandum of Understanding, but Iran assumed full control in 1992
• Iran has since built military installations, airstrips, and missile batteries on the islands, effectively giving it fire control over the entire width of the Strait
• The UAE continues to claim all three islands; the Arab League and most Western nations support the UAE’s position

The Musandam Peninsula: Strategic Geography

The Musandam Peninsula is arguably one of the most strategically located pieces of real estate on earth. This mountainous Omani exclave protrudes directly into the Strait, with cliffs dropping sheer into waters where supertankers transit within visual range. Key facts:

• The Musandam is separated from mainland Oman by approximately 70 miles of UAE territory (the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah)
• Its capital, Khasab, is accessible from mainland Oman primarily by air or sea
• Oman maintains a military presence at Khasab (RAF Thumrait supports coalition operations)
• Because shipping lanes run through Omani waters here, Oman technically has the legal right to restrict transit — though it has never exercised this right and maintains strict neutrality

Bandar Abbas: Iran’s Maritime Command Center

Bandar Abbas (population ~600,000) is the most strategically critical city on the Strait. Located directly on the Iranian side at the narrowest choke point, it serves as:

• Home port of the IRGC Navy’s Persian Gulf fleet
• Iran’s largest commercial port by volume
• Headquarters for Iranian customs and transit inspection operations
• The primary transit point for goods entering Iran from international markets

The nearby Qeshm Island Free Trade Zone and Larak Island (used for IRGC staging and oil transfer operations) form an integrated military-commercial infrastructure cluster that gives Iran unparalleled operational control over the Strait’s northern approaches.

Seabed Geography: Why the Strait Is Both Deep and Dangerous

Unlike most straits of similar width, the Strait of Hormuz has a surprisingly deep main channel — 60 to 100 meters. This depth is absolutely essential for the transit of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs), which have drafts of up to 25 meters (82 feet). Without this depth, the modern supertanker economy simply could not exist. However, the deep channel is confined to the southern (Omani) side of the Strait. Iran’s northern coastal shelf is significantly shallower, which is why all commercial transit hugs the Omani coast — bringing ships within easy range of Iranian missile batteries and fast-attack craft operating from Iranian ports and islands.

FAQ: Strait of Hormuz Geography

Where exactly is the Strait of Hormuz?

Between Iran (north) and the Musandam Peninsula of Oman plus the UAE (south), at approximately 26°N 56°E, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.

Which country controls the Strait of Hormuz?

No single country “controls” it. The shipping lanes pass through Omani territorial waters (southern side) and Iranian territorial waters (northern side). International law recognizes “transit passage” rights for all ships, though Iran disputes this and asserts a right to restrict commercial traffic.

What islands are in the Strait of Hormuz?

The key strategic islands are Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb — all occupied by Iran but claimed by the UAE since 1971. The island of Hormuz (Jazireh-ye Hormuz) sits on the Iranian coast near Bandar Abbas and gave the Strait its name.

How wide is the Strait of Hormuz at its narrowest?

Approximately 21 nautical miles (39 km). However, the actual usable deep-water shipping channels are just 2 miles wide each — meaning supertankers navigate in lanes barely wider than a runway, within visual range of Iranian and Omani coastlines simultaneously.