The city covers an area of 122.14 square kilometres (47.16 sq mi) and had a population of 43,391 in the 2020 census[3] although that total was subsequently adjusted to 41,197; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 43,527.

[4] The settlement on the island was called by Acehnese "Ulee Iheuh", which means "place for crossing".

Due to its natural harbour with relatively deep and well sheltered water, the Dutch East Indies government decided to open Sabang as a quay.

It changed hands to Dutch East Indies and later was operated as port and open for foreign ships in 1883 under management of "Asosiasi Atjeh" (Aceh Association).

[5] At first, the harbour was intended as a coal station for the Dutch navy, but later also served merchant vessels and for the transfer of export goods from northern Sumatra.

On 19 April 1944, the Japanese facilities were attacked by a combined Allied naval force in Operation Cockpit.

[4] Unlike mainland Aceh where a mass exodus occurred, Sabang itself was much less affected by the military conflict and saw little tension between Acehnese and non-Acehnese.

[6] Sabang is the Indonesia's northernmost administrative region, and directly borders with neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and India.

The city's gross regional product in 2021 was valued at 1.12 trillion rupiah with an annual economic growth of 5.82% on 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airport is located southeast of the central city on Weh Island and is capable of handling ATR 72 aircraft.

[21] Indonesia's minister for maritime affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan, stated that Indonesia has given economic and military access by India to the strategic Sabang port; India will invest in the port and economic zone of Sabang city.

[16] There are also two higher education institutions in the city, Al-Aziziyah Sabang Sharia College and Ibnu Sina Nursery Academy.