Basra

Basra ٱلْبَصْرَة Basrah
Metropolis
Basra along Shatt al-Arab, Al-Ashar River, Basrah Museum, Ottoman Viceroy House and Basra International Hotel
Nickname:  Venice of the East[1]
Basra Location of Basra within Iraq Show map of Iraq Basra Basra (Near East) Show map of Near East
Coordinates: 30°30′54″N 47°48′36″E / 30.51500°N 47.81000°E / 30.51500; 47.81000
Country	Iraq
Governorate	Basra
Founded	636 AD
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Mayor	Asaad Al Eidani
Area
• Metropolis	50−75 km2 (21 sq mi)
• Metro	181 km2 (70 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population  (2024)
• Metropolis	1,485,000[2]
Time zone	UTC+3 (AST)
Area code	(+964) 40
Website	www.basra.gov.iq

Al-Basrah (Arabic: ٱلْبَصْرَة, romanized: al-Baṣrah) is a port city in southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the third largest city in Iraq overall, behind only Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq border at the north-easternmost extent of the Arabian Peninsula, the city is situated along the banks of the Shatt al-Arab that empties into the Persian Gulf. Basra is consistently one of the hottest cities in Iraq, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 50 °C (122 °F). The hottest recorded temperature in Basra is 53.9°C. A major industrial center of Iraq, the majority of the city's population are Shi'ite Muslim Arabs.

The city was built in 636. It played an important role as a regional hub of trade and commerce in the Islamic Golden Age. Historically, Basra is one of the ports, from which the fictional Sinbad the Sailor journeyed. During the Islamic era, the city expanded rapidly. It was occupied by the Safavid, from 1697 to 1701. Basra came under Portuguese control, from 1526 to 1668. The city remained under the administration of the Ottoman Empire, as part of Basra vilayet, which was populated mainly by Shi'ite Muslims and flourished as a commercial and trade center. During the World War I, the British forces captured Basra and incorporated it into the Mandate for Mesopotamia, and subsequently Mandatory Iraq, and later the independent Kingdom of Iraq in 1932.

It became an important industrial center in the Persian Gulf. During the Iran–Iraq War, Basra was heavily shelled and besieged by the Iranian forces. The city suffered heavy damage during the Gulf War. It was a major center for the 1991 and 1999 uprisings in Iraq. Basra was the first city to be occupied by the coalition forces, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Since the end of the war, Basra's prosperity has gathered numerous population. Today Basra's majority is of Arab Shi'ite Muslims, with Sunni Muslims, Arab Christians and Afro-Iraqis as minority.

Iraq's main port city, Basra is known as the country's economic capital. It has emerged as an important commercial and industrial center for the country, as the city is home to a large number of manufacturing industries ranging from petrochemical to water treatment. Basra is home to numerous tourist spots including mosques, palaces, churches, synagogues, parks and beaches. It has transformed itself into a modern bustling metropolis, with a port and airport. In recent years, the city has attracted a large number of investments, increasing its prosperity.