If taken in a clockwise direction , these countries are from the north : Iran , United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia , Qatar on a peninsula off the Saudi coast ; Bahrain on an island ; and Kuwait and Iraq in the northwest . Countries with a coastline on the Persian Gulf are ( clockwise , from the north ) : Iran , Oman ( exclave of Musandam ) , United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia , Qatar on a peninsula off the Saudi coast , Bahrain on an island , Kuwait and Iraq in the northwest .