Majnoon Oil Field

The Majnoon Oil Field is located in the Basra Governorate of southern Iraq, near the Iranian border, and is recognized as one of the world's largest oil fields. The name Majnoon translates to crazy in Arabic, reflecting the excessive amount of oil discovered there in 1975 by a Brazilian exploration team. The field spans an area of approximately 52 by 15 kilometers and is situated partly within marshy terrain, which presents significant technical challenges for extraction and infrastructure maintenance. With estimated reserves of up to 38 billion barrels, it is a crucial asset for Iraq's long-term energy strategy and economic development. Following the exit of international companies like Shell in 2018, the state-owned Basra Oil Company took direct control of operations, supported by specialized service firms. Current development plans focus on increasing production from the current level of approximately 240,000 barrels per day to much higher targets. Due to its strategic location on the border, the field was a major battlefield during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.

Nearby cities

Basra

The main port city of Iraq, located on the Shatt al-Arab in the south.

Mesopotamian Marshes

A unique wetland ecosystem in southern Iraq, home to the Ma'dan people and their iconic traditional reed houses.

History & landmarks

Basra Sports City

A state-of-the-art sports complex in southern Iraq that houses the largest football stadium in the country.

Nature

Shatt al-Arab

The Shatt al-Arab is formed by the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris, flowing into the Persian Gulf near Basra.

Al-Faw Coast

Iraq's only coastline on the Persian Gulf, characterized by mudflats and important port access.

More places

Tree of Knowledge

A symbolic site at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates, which local legend claims was part of the Garden of Eden.

Basra Date Palm Groves

Once the largest date palm groves in the world on the banks of the Shatt al-Arab, still producing high-quality dates today.

Basra Family Park

A popular park in southern Iraq, providing the families of Basra with a place for recreation in the city.

Basra Refinery

The central oil refinery in southern Iraq, processing crude oil from the surrounding giant oil fields for domestic consumption.

Khor Al Zubair Port

An important Iraqi port near Basra, specializing mainly in industrial and oil exports.

Safwan Border Crossing

The central and economically highly important border crossing in the south of the country, connecting Iraq with Kuwait.

Rumaila Oil Field

One of the largest and most important oil fields in the world, providing a significant portion of Iraq's oil production.

Port of Umm Qasr

Iraq's largest and most important deep-water port, handling the majority of national imports and exports.