alAwja

al-Awja, also transliterated as al-Auja, is a village in the Saladin Governorate of Iraq. It is located in the north-central part of the country, near the city of Tikrit along the Tigris River valley. The settlement is a small, predominantly rural community whose economy relies on agriculture and livestock. The surrounding area features arid to semi-arid conditions with hot summers and cool winters typical of the central Iraqi plain.

al-Awja is best known for its association with Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president who led the country from 1979 until 2003. It is widely reported that Hussein was born in al-Awja in 1937, and the house traditionally identified as his birthplace remains a notable point of reference in biographical accounts. After growing up in nearby towns and cities, he rose to power in Baghdad. The village has since been cited in discussions of Iraqi political history and in studies of Saddam's early life.

Administratively, al-Awja lies within the Tikrit District of Saladin Governorate. As a rural community, it has a relatively small population and limited infrastructure compared with urban centers in the region. The village’s legacy is closely tied to national history due to its connection with Saddam Hussein, while today it remains a modest agricultural community in northern Iraq.