Al-Faw Peninsula

A low-lying peninsula in southeastern Iraq between the Shatt al-Arab waterway and the Persian Gulf. Its position near the Gulf’s northern end gives it strategic importance for Iraq’s maritime access.

Connect

Shatt al-Arab: A river formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates, flowing into the Persian Gulf. It borders the peninsula to the west and provides Iraq’s principal natural waterway to the Gulf.
Grand Faw Port: A large Iraqi port project under construction on the Al-Faw Peninsula. It is the principal development intended to expand Iraq’s direct access to Gulf shipping.
Ottoman Iraq: The Ottoman Empire’s provinces and territories in the region that became modern Iraq. Al-Faw was part of the Ottoman-era southern frontier before Iraq’s modern borders formed.
Iran–Iraq War: A war between Iran and Iraq fought from 1980 to 1988. The war brought repeated fighting over the peninsula and its approaches.
Persian Gulf: An extension of the Indian Ocean between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. The peninsula projects into the Gulf at its northern end.
Iraq–Development Road: A planned transport corridor linking southern Iraq with Turkey by rail and road. The corridor is designed to connect Gulf-facing infrastructure, including Al-Faw, to inland trade routes.
Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913: An agreement that defined aspects of the boundary between Ottoman territory and British-administered Gulf states. Its boundary arrangements helped shape the political geography around southern Iraq.
Operation Dawn 8: A 1986 Iranian offensive that captured the Al-Faw Peninsula from Iraq. Its capture of Al-Faw was one of Iran’s most consequential successes during the war.
Basra: A major Iraqi city and port on the Shatt al-Arab in southern Iraq. Basra lies upriver from Al-Faw and depends on waterways connected to the peninsula.
Iraqi Ports Company: The Iraqi state company responsible for operating and developing the country’s ports. It oversees port operations and development in the region surrounding Al-Faw.