View source for Saudi Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone

{{Short description|Former border zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia}}{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Saudi Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone
| native_name            = {{native name|ar|منطقة النزاع العراقي السعودي|italics=off}}<br />{{transliteration|ar|Mintaqat al-Niza‘ al-‘Iraqi as-Sa‘udi}}
| image_flag             =
| flag_caption           =
| image_flag2            =
| image_map              = Saudi Arabian–Iraqi Neutral Zone 1990.jpg
| map_caption            = The former Neutral Zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
| official_languages     = [[Arabic]]
| population_estimate    = >100 (1991)
| iso3166code            = NT
| cctld                  = 
| year_end               = 1991
| year_start             = 1922
| p1               = Sultanate of Nejd
| flag_p1               =
| p2               = Mandatory Iraq
| flag_p2               = Flag of the Arab Federation.svg
| s1               = Saudi Arabia
| flag_s1               = Flag of Saudi Arabia (type 2).svg
| s2               = Ba'athist Iraq{{!}}Iraqi Republic
| flag_s2               = Flag of Iraq (1963–1991).svg
}}
[[File:Neutral Zone IQ SA.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Navigation chart showing Iraq-Saudi Neutral Zone.]]
The '''Saudi Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone''' also known as the '''neutral territory''' ('''NT''') or '''neutral territory zone''' ('''NTZ'''), was a [[kite (shape)|kite]]-shaped region of {{cvt|7044|km2|acre}} on the border between [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] within which the border between the two countries had not been settled. The neutral zone came into existence following the [[Uqair Protocol of 1922]] that defined the border between [[Mandatory Iraq]] and the [[Sultanate of Nejd]] (Saudi Arabia's [[Succession of states|predecessor state]]). An agreement to partition the neutral zone was reached by Iraqi and Saudi representatives on 26 December 1981, and approved by the [[Iraqi National Assembly]] on 28 January 1982. The territory was divided on an unknown date between 28 January and 30 July 1982.<ref name=":0"/> Notice was given to the [[United Nations]] in June 1991.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP86T01017R000100470001-8.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120010225/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP86T01017R000100470001-8.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-01-20|title=Saudi Arabia/Iraq: Neutral Zone Partitioned|publisher=CIA Directorate of Intelligence|date=1986-02-28|access-date=2020-10-22}}</ref><ref name="arch"/> 

Since there was no significant infrastructure or urban development in the zone, the population remained sparse and mainly ethnic [[Bedouin]] throughout the neutral zone's existence. The people living there were typically scattered in small groups, with limited interaction with the larger settled populations of Iraq or Saudi Arabia.

==History==
The Treaty of Muhammarah ([[Khorramshahr]]), 5 May 1922,<ref name="state">{{cite web|author=Office of the Geographer |title=International Boundary Study: Iraq – Saudi Arabia Boundary|pages=11–12|publisher=US Department of State|date=1 June 1971|url=http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS111.pdf|access-date=29 January 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060916035544/http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS111.pdf |archive-date=16 September 2006}}</ref> forestalled the imminent conflict between the [[United Kingdom]], which held the mandate for Iraq, and the [[Kingdom of Nejd]], which later became Saudi Arabia after it unified with the [[Kingdom of Hejaz]]. It was signed by [[Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Thunayan|Prince Ahmed bin Abdullah]] on behalf of [[Abdulaziz Ibn Saud]], King of Najd, who did not ratify the treaty.<ref name=ghag>{{cite thesis|author=Gamal Hagar|title=Britain, Her Middle East Mandates and the Emergence of Saudi Arabia, 1926-1932: A Study in the Process of British Policy-making and in the Conduct and Development of Britain's Relations with Ibn Saud|url=https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/5850/1/HagarPhD1981.pdf|access-date=15 May 2021|location=University of Keele|degree=PhD|date=1981|page=72}}</ref> The treaty specifically avoided defining boundaries. Following further negotiations, the [[Uqair Protocol of 1922|Protocol of Uqair]] (Uqayr), 2 December 1922, defined most of the borders between them and created the neutral zone.<ref name="state" /> The protocol was ratified by Abdulaziz.<ref name=ghag/>

No military or permanent buildings were to be built in or near the neutral zone, and [[nomad]]s of both countries were to have unimpeded access to its pastures and wells.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Administrative division of the zone was achieved in 1975,<ref name="cia">{{cite web|author=Directorate of Intelligence |title=The World Factbook 1990 - Iraq - Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone (mirror) |url=http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Library/Classic/world90.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980522124233/http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Library/Classic/world90.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 May 1998|year=1990|access-date=29 January 2007}}</ref><ref name="arch"/> and a border treaty{{clarify|What treaty?|date=December 2010}} concluded in 1981.<ref name="arch"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Directorate of Intelligence|title=The World Factbook 1991 - Iraq - Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone (mirror) |url=http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Library/Classic/world91.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980522124329/http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Library/Classic/world91.txt |url-status=dead|archive-date=22 May 1998|year=1991|access-date=29 January 2007}}</ref> For unknown reasons, the treaty was not filed with the [[United Nations]], and nobody outside Iraq and Saudi Arabia was notified of the change nor shown maps with details of the new boundary.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} As the [[Gulf War]] approached in early 1991, Iraq cancelled all international agreements with Saudi Arabia since 1968. Saudi Arabia responded by registering all previous boundary agreements negotiated with Iraq at the United Nations in June 1991.<ref name="arch">{{cite web|author=Schofield, Richard|title=Arabian Boundary disputes, Archive Editions|publisher=Archive Editions|url=http://www.archiveeditions.co.uk/titledetails.asp?tid=34|access-date=29 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423153144/http://www.archiveeditions.co.uk/titledetails.asp?tid=34|archive-date=2008-04-23 |url-status=live }}</ref> Most official maps no longer show the [[rhombus]]-shaped neutral zone, but rather draw the boundary approximately through the centre of the territory. For example, the [[United States]]’ [[Bureau of Intelligence and Research#Office of the Geographer and Global Issues (INR/AN/GGI)|Office of the Geographer]] regarded the area as having only an approximate boundary rather than a precise one.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

The Saudi Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone formerly had the [[ISO 3166-1]] codes <code>NT</code> and <code>NTZ</code>. These codes were discontinued in 1993.<ref name="statoids">{{cite web|author=Law, Gwillim|title=ISO 3166-1 Change History |publisher=Statoids|url=http://statoids.com/w3166his.html|access-date=29 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206150331/http://www.statoids.com/w3166his.html|archive-date=6 February 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[FIPS 10-4]] code for the Saudi Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone was <code>IY</code>;<ref name="statoids2">{{cite web|author=Gwillim Law|title=FIPS PUB 10 Change History|publisher=Statoids |url=http://statoids.com/wfipshis.html|access-date=29 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209104332/http://statoids.com/wfipshis.html|archive-date=9 February 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> this code was deleted in 1992.<ref name="statoids2"/>

==See also==
* [[Iraq–Saudi Arabia border]]
* [[Geography of Iraq]]
* [[Geography of Saudi Arabia]]
* [[Unification of Saudi Arabia]]
* [[Saudi Arabia–United Arab Emirates border dispute]]
* [[Saudi–Kuwaiti neutral zone]]

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite web |url=http://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%201638/english.pdf |title=International Frontier Treaty Between Saudi Arabia and Iraq splitting the Neutral Zone |date=1975-07-02 |work=UN }}

== External links ==
* [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/785/whats-up-with-the-neutral-zones-near-saudi-arabia The Straight Dope on the Neutral Zone]
* [http://www.archiveeditions.co.uk/titledetails.asp?tid=34 Arabian Boundary Disputes]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060916035544/http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS111.pdf International Boundary Study No. 111]

{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|28.983034|45.547498|display=title}}
{{Territorial disputes in Western Asia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saudi-Iraqi Neutral Zone}}
[[Category:20th century in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:20th century in Iraq]]
[[Category:Disputed territories in the Persian Gulf]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraq–Saudi Arabia border]]
[[Category:Iraq–Saudi Arabia relations]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Demilitarized zones]]
[[Category:1981 disestablishments in Asia]]