[1] It lies at the mouth of the Asi River on the Mediterranean coast, near Turkey's border with Syria, 25 km (16 mi) from the city of Antakya.

The area was conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate in 637 after the Battle of the Iron Bridge and later it came under the control of the Umayyad and Abbasid Arab dynasties.

The area was known as Svediye, where six villages of Armenians were located (Bityas, Kabousiye, Haji Habibly, Kheder Beg, Yoghoun Olouk and Vakif).

After the French government agreed to give Hatay Province to Turkey in 1939, all Armenian villagers (with the exception of some from Vakif) emigrated to Anjar, Lebanon.

The local economy depends on fishing and agriculture, especially citrus fruits, and Samandağ has the air of a country market town, with young men buzzing through the streets on mopeds.

Around the midtown of Çevlik (derived from Seleucia), there is a long sandy coastline popular with daytrippers from Antakya, although the sea can be stormy.

There are 42 neighbourhoods in Samandağ District:[11] The vast majority of the population is composed of Levantine Arabic speakers who adhere to the Alawism.