Basra is one of the oldest Islamic cities which was established during the Islamic conquest in 625 A.D. The Prophet's companion, Utba Bin Gazwan, choses the city site in 14 A.H. (636 A.D.), and the city was formally planned and built by Abu Musa Al-Asha'ari six months prior to the building of Kufa city upriver. Basra was constructed close to Al-Busaira from the most ancient eras of history.

The city is situated on Shatt Al-Arab river banks some 67 Km (41 mi.) from the Arabian Gulf / Persian Gulf. Basra City is 549 Km (341 mi.) south of Iraq's capital, Baghdad. Basra has Iraq's only seaport, providing shipping and commerce to the rest of the world through international marine channels at the ports of Um Qasr and Al Fao.

Basra is connected by air through its international airport with connecting flights to number of international capitals. Strategically located within the province of Basra, the city of Basra has four extensive highways, river transportation systems on both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and a railway linking it to Baghdad.

Basra's global position makes it the most important trade center in iraq. In addition, Basra has a confirmed oil reserve of 65 billion barrels of crude.This amount represents more than half of Iraq's total oil reserved.