The city of Sabang before World War II was the most important port city compared to Temasek (now Singapore).
Sabang has been widely known as a natural harbor named Kolen Station by the Dutch colonial government since 1881. In 1887, Firma Delange assisted by Sabang Haven obtaining the authority to add, build port facilities and facilities. The free harbor era in Sabang was started in 1895, known as vrij haven and managed by the Maatschaappij Zeehaven en Kolen Station, then known as Sabang Maatschaappij. World War II influenced the condition of Sabang where in 1942 Sabang occupied by Japanese troops, then bombed Allied aircraft and suffered physical damage until it was forced to close.
In the early days of Indonesia's independence, Sabang became the naval defense center of the Republic of Indonesia (RIS) with the full authority of the government through the Decree of the Minister of Defense RIS Number 9 / MP / 50. All Sabang Maatschaappij port assets are purchased by the Government of Indonesia. Then in 1965 formed the government of Sabang Municipality based on Law No. 10/1965 and initiated the initial idea to reopen as Free Port and Free Trade Area.
The idea was then realized and reinforced by the issuance of Law No. 3/1970 on Sabang Free Trade and Law No. 4/1970 on the establishment of Sabang as a Free Trade Area and Free Port. And on the grounds of the opening of Batam Island as Free Trade Zone and Free Port of Batam, Sabang was forced to be shut down based on Law No. 10/1985. Then in 1993 formed Regional Economic Cooperation Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) which makes Sabang very strategic in economic development in South Asia region.
In 1997 at Pantai Gapang, Sabang, Jamboree Sciences and Technology (Iptek) initiated by BPPT with the focus of the study wanted to re-develop Sabang. Followed later in 1998, Sabang City and Pulo Aceh Sub-district were designated as Integrated Economic Development Zone (KAPET) together with other KAPET, inaugurated by President BJ Habibie with Keppes. 171 of 1998 on 28 September 1998.
A new era for Sabang, when in 2000 occurred Sabang Declaration as Free Trade Zone and Free Port by President KH. Abdurrahman Wahid in Sabang with the issuance of Inpres no. 2 of 2000 on January 22, 2000. And then the issuance of Government Regulation in lieu of Law no. 2 year 2000 dated September 1, 2000 is further legalized into Law Number 37 Year 2000 on Free Trade Area and Sabang Free Port.
The activities of Free Port and Sabang Free Trade in 2002 began to pulsate with the entry of goods from abroad to Sabang area. But in 2004 this activity stopped because Aceh was designated as a Military Emergency Area.
Sabang also experienced the Earthquake and Tsunami on December 26, 2004, but because of the very deep trenches of Sabang Bay, Sabang survived the tsunami. So then Sabang serve as a transit air and sea that bring aid for tsunami victims in the mainland of Aceh. The Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (BRR) of Aceh-Nias establishes Sabang as a transit point for the delivery of construction materials and others to be used in the mainland of Aceh.
The population of Kota Sabang resulted from population census in 2010 amounted to ± 30,653 people consisting of 15,600 male and 15,053 female souls. With a population density of about 200 inhabitants / km². And in 2011 the population numbered 31,355 inhabitants.
Weh Island has two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season typically falls from September to February. Dry season from March to August. According to the Meteorological Station measurements of Sabang, an average rainfall of 1,745 - 2,232 mm / year, with the lowest number in March at 18 mm and the highest figure in September of 276 mm. In September and October there was a transition from the dry season to the rainy season.
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