Yemen, also known as the Republic of Yemen, is an Islamic presidential democracy located in the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula, in southwest Asia. It is bordered to the north by Saudi Arabia; east by Oman; the west by the Arabian Sea; and south by the Gulf of Aden. It consists of the former nations of North Yemen and South Yemen which officially merged in 1985, after South Yemen was devastated by Doomsday and collapsed. As of 2010, its request to join the Gulf States Union is currently under review by that body.