Al-Zahraa College of Medicine was established in 2017 as the second medical college in the University of Basrah after the College of Medicine. It adopted a different curriculum called “Integrated curriculum", which was based on the Outcome Based Education program. This curriculum was previously accredited by the College of Medicine-University of Kufa, Iraq, which relied on the curriculum of Leicester Medical College in the UK.

The College was first located with the College of Medicine in the University of Basrah as a host for a year, then moved to its own location in Bab-Alzubair campus of the University of Basrah.

The building was not built as a college, it was a dormitory for students, the college council made a great effort to refurbish it to be compatible with college needs.