Al Fāw

Until 1960, Al-Faw was part of Abu al-Khasib District, before being established as an independent district on August 30, 1960. The city is known for its marine products such as fish, shrimp, and salt, as well as for cultivating henna and date palms, the latter of which declined significantly due to the military and economic conflicts that lasted for 23 years under the rule of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. The people of Al-Faw, like other residents of Basra, speak an Iraqi Arabic dialect similar to that of Kuwait, where the letter jīm is often pronounced as yā, for example, the word rajul (man) is pronounced rayyāl.

The city’s climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, humid winters. Its location at the head of the Gulf gives it significant economic importance in Iraq, both agriculturally and commercially, as it serves as a port for oil exports. Most of the city’s inhabitants depend on fishing for their livelihood.