Kuwait is an urbanized and rapidly developing emirate that is comfortably located in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula and near the islands of the Persian Gulf. It borders the Islamic Republic of Iran to the north and west and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the south. Kuwait is a desert country with rolling sand dunes and occasional oases. The climate in Kuwait is tropical and dry, similar to that of neighboring countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Temperatures can reach up to 47°C in summer and down to 18°C in winter. Precipitation is low, averaging around 175 millimeters per year, with no rain from June to August. North-westerly winds known as "shimal" can cause sandstorms that last for several days.