Bosaso (Boosaaso) is the capital of the Bari region and the commercial capital of Puntland. It lies on the southern shore of the Gulf of Aden with mountains rising behind it. Its port is the largest in Puntland and one of the busiest in Somalia.

The city has grown enormously since the 1990s, drawing traders, workers and displaced families from many parts of the country.

Some scholars link the area with Mosylon, a port in the 1st-century Periplus known for exporting aromatics. The town was formerly known as Bender Qassim, a name its airport still carries.

The modern port was built in the mid-1980s for livestock exports. After the collapse of the central government in 1991, Bosaso became one of the country's most secure ports, and its revenues helped underpin the founding of Puntland in 1998.

Bosaso is a melting pot of people from many regions, which gives it a diverse culture and lively markets. The seafront and harbour are favourite places to relax in the evening.

The port is the backbone of the economy: camels, goats, sheep and cattle are shipped to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and Yemen. In 2017 P&O Ports (DP World) won a 30-year concession to develop the port. Fishing, frankincense, telecommunications and retail are also important.