Herāt is in western Afghanistan, in the province also known as Herāt. It is situated in the valley of the Hari Rud, a river flowing from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Kara-Kum Desert in Turkmenistan. Situated in a fertile area, Herāt was traditionally known for its wine. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of 349,000 (2006 official estimate). Tājīks and/or Fārsīwāns form the majority of the city's population, followed by Pashtuns, Hazaras, Uzbeks and several other groups as small minorities. All the inhabitants of the city speak the Persian language, to show their unity among each other.

Herat is an ancient city with many historic buildings, although these have suffered damage in various military conflicts during the last few decades. The city is dominated by the remains of a citadel constructed under the rule of Alexander the Great. During the Middle Ages Herat became one of the important cities of Khorasan, and it was known as the Pearl of Khorasan.

Herāt is situated favourably on the ancient and historic trade routes of India, China, the Middle East, and Europe. The roads from Herāt to Iran, Turkmenistan, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar are still strategically important.