Khawr Abd Allah

Khawr Abd Allah
خور عبد الله
Khawr Abd Allah
Location	Northwest Arabian Gulf (between southern Iraq and northern Kuwait)
Group	Estuary
Coordinates	29°59′00″N 48°12′36″E
Type	Estuary
Part of	Shared between Iraq and Kuwait (disputed)
Primary inflows	Shatt al-Arab
Primary outflows	Arabian Gulf / Persian Gulf
Ocean/sea sources	Arabian Gulf/Persian Gulf
Max. width	2 to 10
Surface area	200 to 300
Average depth	6 to 8
Max. depth	13 to 15
Max. temperature	46°
Min. temperature	0°
Islands	Jazirat Bubiyan, Jazirat Warbah
Settlements	Umm Qasr

Khor Abdullah is a tidal channel located in the northern part of the Arabian Gulf, situated between Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island and Warba Island on one side, and Iraq’s Al-Faw Peninsula on the other. The channel extends into Iraqi territory, forming Khor Al-Zubair, where the port of Umm Qasr—one of Iraq’s most important commercial ports—is located.

In 2010, the Iraqi government laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Grand Faw Port on the Iraqi side of the channel.

Historical background

Iraqi documents indicate that Khor Abdullah is located within Iraqi territorial waters, and Iraqi official sources confirm that the creek was under full Iraqi control before the first Gulf War. Iraqi forces also carried out extensive demining operations in the Creek after the war, and the region witnessed confrontations against Iranian forces in the 1980s, and was liberated at the time from Iranian control.

Border Dispute

According to United Nations Security Council Resolution 833 (1993), the maritime border between Iraq and Kuwait was officially demarcated. The resolution stipulated that Khor Abdullah is to be shared between the two countries and serves as a joint navigational waterway, with access granted to both parties. The resolution was met with domestic opposition in Iraq, with some officials and analysts viewing it as a concession of Iraqi sovereignty over the channel.

Iraqi Perspective

The Iraqi government maintains that Khor Abdullah is a vital strategic maritime access point for the country. It underscores the importance of retaining full sovereignty over its ports and surrounding waters. The waterway is considered an integral part of Iraq’s maritime geography, directly linked to the ports of Umm Qasr and Grand Faw.

See also

• Grand Faw Port
• Umm Qasr
• Iraq–Kuwait border disputes
• Khor Al-Zubair

References

• United Nations Security Council Resolution 833 (1993)
• Iraqi Ministry of Transport – Archive of Maritime Projects
• Official statements by the Iraqi News Agency