Umm Qasr Port, Maritime port in Basra Governorate, Iraq

Umm Qasr Port is Iraq's only deep-water port located where the Shatt al-Arab waterway reaches the Persian Gulf at the country's southern edge. The facility handles the majority of the nation's imports through specialized cargo terminals designed for containers and bulk materials.

The port gained military importance during World War II when Allied forces used it as a temporary supply point for the Soviet Union. It later experienced the first combat of the Iraq War in 2003, which triggered major operational and infrastructure transformations.

Umm Qasr began as a small fishing town, and fishing remains part of the area's life alongside the port. The port was built by a consortium from West Germany, Sweden and Lebanon, and Iraqi Republic Railways linked it to Basra and Baghdad. Today the Ministry of Trade relies on it directly for importing foodstuffs and goods, and about 80% of Iraq's imports pass through it.

The port operates as an active commercial facility with limited public access due to security protocols and ongoing cargo operations. Visitors should check current conditions beforehand and maintain respectful distance from working areas.

Umm Qasr was a small fishing town before the port existed, and is said to be where Alexander the Great landed in Mesopotamia in 325 BC. During the Second World War the Allies ran a temporary port here to unload supplies bound for the Soviet Union. The port is also listed as part of the Maritime Silk Road.