This study examines the Port of Assab as one of the most significant historical ports overlooking the Red Sea, aiming to analyze its historical, strategic, and economic dimensions across different periods. The research problem focuses on identifying the role played by the Port of Assab in regional and international competition over the Red Sea and examining how its geographical location contributed to shaping its strategic and economic importance, particularly amid the political and colonial transformations that affected the region. The study seeks to highlight the historical significance of the port, clarify the impact of its geographical position in making it a focal point of international rivalry, and demonstrate its contribution to commercial activity in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. The research adopts the historical analytical method by tracing and analyzing the political and economic developments related to the port within their chronological context. The findings reveal that the Port of Assab played a central role in shaping regional power balances and was subject to competition among Ottoman, Egyptian, Italian, and British powers, and later modern international actors. It also contributed significantly to supporting Ethiopian and Eritrean trade and strengthened its status as a strategic maritime corridor influencing international navigation in the Red Sea. Keywords: Port of Assab – Red Sea – Eritrea – Strategic Importance – Economic Significance – Colonial Competition – Horn of Africa – Bab al-Mandeb Strait