The importance of regional development resides in the provision of aid and other assistance to regions that are less economically developed. The purpose of this research is to identify the development possibilities and resources at the regional level, which can be tapped for the development of secondary cities. This research aims to shed light on the importance of urban planning in creating regional balance and relieving population and service pressure on major cities. The research answers the question relative to how urban planners can work towards the idea of creating development corridors including the cities located within them, whilst focusing more on the regional dimension and the topic of sustainable urbanization. This research assumes the need for a development corridor between Amara and Basrah cities to facilitate increased and diverse social and economic development. Qalat Salih is a pole of development located on this development corridor; this paper follows the analysis approach for the regional potentials that can be exploited to activate the development corridor between Basra province and Amara, specifically in Qalat Saleh compared to Maysan districts. According to results, there are several development potentials at the regional level that can be exploited, namely natural resources and the existence of the marshes, as well as tourism activities/facilities that are present along the selected development corridor. It is therefore possible to explore potential import and export opportunities between districts, as well.
