Assab or Aseb (Tigrinya: ዓሰብ?, ʿAsäb; Arabic: عصب) is a port city in the Southern Red Sea Region of Eritrea. It is situated on the west coast of the Red Sea. Languages spoken in Assab are predominately Afar, Tigrinya, and Arabic.
Assab is known for its large market, beaches and nightlife. It is served by the Assab International Airport.
In 1989, Assab had a population of 39,600 inhabitants. It possesses an oil refinery, which was shut down in 1997 for economic reasons. Nearby is the site of the ancient city of Arsinoe
History
In 1869 it was bought by the Rubattino Shipping Company from the local Sultan.It was granted to Ethiopia in addition to Massawa and the rest of Eritrea in 1952 when Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia.
Economy
The port facilities were greatly expanded in the early 1990s, with the construction of the new terminal, but the port has declined since trade with Ethiopia was terminated in 1998 as a consequence of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War.
