Sembawang planning area is bordered by Simpang to the east, Mandai to the south, Yishun to the southeast, Woodlands to the west and the Straits of Johor to the north.

It hosted a major naval base and port facilities since the early 20th century, and continues to handle regular shipping traffic today along its wharves.

During colonial times, Sembawang was home to a major British naval base, the construction of which began in 1928 and was completed in 1938.

The town remains a major port, with Sembawang Wharves handling a high volume of bulk commodities cargo, such as timber and rubber.

[10] In late 2022, Sembawang had their first hawker centre and polyclinic at Bukit Canberra, which opened progressively from July 2022 onwards.

Sembawang has always been held by the People's Action Party since its formation and has been expanded to include subregions of Admiralty and Canberra since it became a Group Representation Constituency.

In February 1942, both bases were partially torched and wrecked by the retreating British forces during the Battle of Singapore to deny their use by units of the advancing Imperial Japanese Army.

[12] This special arrangement was also extended to the United States Navy since early 1960s to support the American involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Task Force 73 (and Commander Logistic Group Western Pacific), part of US 7th Fleet, has been headquartered in Sembawang since 1992.

The Southern portions of the river, which consisted of mangroves, ponds and grassland, was filled in during the 1990s in preparation for the development of Sembawang New Town.