Ahvaz (; ) is a city in the Central District of Ahvaz County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district.
Positioned near the border with Iraq, along the banks of the Karun River, Ahvaz serves as a key industrial and transportation hub, with a diverse population and a history shaped by its proximity to Iraq and the Persian Gulf.
Ahvaz is home to over 1.3 million people within its metropolitan area. Census results suggest a steady increase in population. It is home to Persians, Arabs and other groups such as Qashqai and Kurds. Languages spoken in the area include Persian, Khuzestāni Arabic, Southern Kurdish, Neo-Mandaic, and dialects such as Bakhtiari, Dezfuli and Shushtari.
The Karun, the largest river in Iran by volume, flows through the center of the city. It is one of two navigable rivers in Iran, alongside the Arvand Rud.
Ahvaz has earned the reputation of being the City of Bridges due to its numerous big bridges built on the Karun to facilitate better communication between the east and west parts of the city, although since the beginning of the 20th century, this city has always been known as the Oil Capital of Iran, along with other cities of Khuzestan province.
This city has a long history, dating back to the Achaemenid period. In ancient times, the city was one of the main centers of the Academy of Gondishapur.
Etymology The city known today as Ahvaz was first recognized as an urban settlement in ancient times under the name Taryana. This name clearly reflects “Dāryāna” derived from “Dāryān” the legendary name of Darius, and also refers to a powerful dynasty of Persian kings that ruled after the Achaemenid period.
Taryana was located along a section of the Royal Road that stretched from Persepolis to Sardis, with part of the royal route crossing the Karun River in Taryana (present-day Ahvaz). Later, during the reign of Ardashir I (Ardashir Babakan), Taryana expanded and was renamed “Hormazd-Ardeshir” () in New Persian, being reestablished on both sides of the river. The first part of the name honored "God," while the second part was named after the king himself. The name was later abbreviated to “Darawashir”, but it is unclear if this change was made by Ardashir I in 230 (cf. Encyclopædia Iranica, al-Maqdisi, et al.)Dodgeon M. H. and Lieu S. N. C., The Roman Eastern Frontier and The Persian Wars; A Documentary History, London (1991), p.35; or by his grandson Hormizd I according to the Middle Persian Šahrestānīhā ī Ērānšahr. The king built a dam over the Karun River in the city, which increased its significance, and soon Darawashir became the capital of the province of Susiana (modern-day Khuzestan).cf. Encyclopædia Iranica
The commercial center of Susiana, located on one side of the river in Darawashir (Darāvāshīr, east of the city, spanning the area from present-day Khorram Kushk to the present-day “Chaharrah Zand”), was known as "Hūǰestān-vāčār" (“the market of the Huzestan”). The other side of the river, serving as the administrative and aristocratic center (west of Ahvaz, covering the area of present-day Amaniyeh, Lashkar, and Lashkarābād), was called Horamshir.
According to the research of numerous historians, including Clifford Bosworth in the Encyclopædia Iranica, Vladimir Minorsky, Svat Soucek, and Abdolmajid Arfaei, the names Ahvaz and Khuzestan share a common origin and are both derived from the name of the ancient people who inhabited this region, the Uzi ().
Uji (also spelled Uzi) was given to a warrior tribe in the province of Susiana. It is recorded in Old Persian as 'Uvaja' () and in Assyrian cuneiform inscriptions as 'Huzi'. Later, Greek historians recorded it as 'Ouxioi' (), and Arab writers recorded it as 'Khūzī' years later.“Ahvaz” – Part 1: Name and History, Islamic EncyclopediaThe New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume 1, 1995, p. 169Halm, Heinz; Bonner, Michael (1996). The Empire of the Mahdi, Part 1, Volume 26. BRILL.
The name of today's Khuzestan province is derived from their ethnonym through phonetic transformation and Persianization (Huzistan, “the land of the Huzi”). In Syriac Christian writings, the name of the city appears as Beth Huzaye.
When the Muslims defeated the Sasanian Empire in the 7th century CE, the second part of the city (Horamshir) was destroyed. The Arabs translated the name of the remaining part of the city, the Hūǰestān-vāčār as Sūq al-Ahvāz.
The name of “Ahvaz” is the Arabicized plural form of the word "Huzi", following the af‘āl () pattern. Thus, “Hūzīs” became “Ahvāz”. The Huzis, who were likely descendants of the Elamites, were the indigenous inhabitants of the Khuzestan region. Their language, known as the Huzi language, remained in use in Khuzestan until the Sasanian period and even for centuries after the Muslim conquest and subsequent rule in Iran. Over time, due to varying pronunciations across different languages and dialects, the name of the province evolved from Hūzistān to Khuzestān.
During the Qajar period, under Naseroddin Shah, the name of Ahvaz was changed to 'Nāseriyeh'. However, in September 1935, by approval of the Council of Ministers, the city was once again officially named Ahvaz.
History
20th century In the 19th century, "Ahvaz was no more than a small borough inhabited mainly by Sabeans (1500 to 2000 inhabitants according to Ainsworth in 1835; 700 according to Curzon in 1890)."Encyclopædia Iranica, p.690, see entry: Ahvaz
In the 1880s, in late Qajar Iran, the Karun was dredged and reopened to commerce. A newly built railway crossed the Karun at Ahvaz. The city again became a commercial crossroads, linking river and rail traffic. The construction of the Suez Canal further stimulated trade. A port city was built near the old village of Ahvaz and named Bandar-e-Naseri in honour of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar.
Oil was found near Ahvaz in the early 20th century, and the city once again grew and prospered as a result of this newfound wealth. From 1897 to 1925, the city of Ahvaz was under the control of a Qajar prince, who served as governor, and Reza-Gholi Khan Sarhang, the commander of the Khuzestan army. Khaz'al al-Ka'bi was recognized by Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar as hereditary ruler of the Emirate of Muhammara, Sardar Asad Bakhtiari, as the most powerful leader of the Bakhtiari people. He had power and authority over most regions of Khuzestan, such as Dezful, Shushtar, Izeh, even Ahvaz and Amir Mojahede Bakhtiari in Ramhormoz and Behbahan. At this time, the newly founded Ahvaz was named Nâseri in honour of its founder Nasser ed-Din Shah Qajar. Afterwards, during Pahlavi Iran, it resumed its old name, Ahvaz. The government of Khuzestan province was transferred there from Shushtar in 1926. The Trans-Iranian Railway reached Ahvaz in 1929 and by World War II, Ahvaz had become the principal built-up area of the interior of Khūzestān. Professional segregation remained well marked between various groups in that period still feebly integrated: Persians, sub-groupings of Persians and Arabs. Natives of Isfahan Province held an important place in retail trade, as owners of cafes and hotels, and as craftsmen.Ibid, p.690
During World War II, in July 1942, a camp for Polish refugees was established in Ahvaz (see also Iran–Poland relations). Some 4,000 Poles were housed there as of May 1943.
Iraq attempted to annex Khuzestan and Ahvaz in 1980, resulting in the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988). Ahvaz was close to the front lines and suffered severely during the war. Iraq had hoped to exacerbate ethnic tensions and win over popular support for the invaders. Most accounts say that the Arabs of Khuzestan resisted the Iraqis rather than welcome them as liberators. However, some Iranian Arabs claim that as a minority, they face discrimination from the central government; they agitate for the right to preserve their cultural and linguistic distinction and more provincial autonomy. See Politics of Khuzestan.
In 1989, the Foolad Ahvaz steel facility was built near the town. This company is best known for its company-sponsored football club, Foolad F.C., which was the champion of Iran's Premier Football League in 2005.
In 2005, the city witnessed a series of bombings. Many government sources relate these events to developments in Iraq, accusing foreign governments of organizing and funding Arab separatist groups. The Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz claimed credit for several of the bombings, including four bombs on 12 June 2005, that killed 8 people.Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz MIPT Terror Knowledge Base Gunmen killed at least 29 people at the Ahvaz military parade attack on 22 September 2018.
2025–2026 Iranian protests
During the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, the city of Ahvaz also witnessed protest gatherings and clashes between protesters and security forces. On 2 January 2026, Iraqi militias affiliated with the Iranian government had recruited forces to assist Iranian security forces in suppressing protests in Iran. According to the report, the troops were assembled at a base in Ahvaz before being deployed to various regions to support protest suppression efforts.
On 10 January, protests and demonstrations were held in Ahvaz. According to reports, some streets were blocked during the protests, and following clashes between protesters and security forces, the Ahvaz governorate building caught fire.
On 16 January, scattered protests and clashes were reported in various neighborhoods and areas of the city. On 17 January, a group of shopkeepers and citizens held a protest gathering in the Grand Bazaar of Ahvaz, after which a number of shops were closed.
On 18 January, a protest gathering took place in the Naderi area and was dispersed by security forces using tear gas. Clashes were also reported on 19 January, in the Golestan area. According to reports, security forces opened fire in order to prevent protesters from approaching certain government buildings.
In addition, reports indicated that plainclothes forces confronted protest gatherings in the "Zeitoun Karmandi" and central bazaar areas, leading to the arrest of several protesters. During these events, law enforcement forces reportedly retreated to the "Boostan" intersection in the "Kuy-e Saadi" neighborhood. The use of drones by security forces to monitor and control protests was also reported.
On 21 and 22 January, protests and clashes continued in parts of the city, and several protesters were arrested. On Monday night, nighttime protests accompanied by clashes were reported on Naderi Street, 24-Metri Street, and in the "Abdolhamid Bazaar", where security forces blocked several roads using concrete barriers.
On 23 January, nighttime protests in the "Golestan", "Saadi", and "Goldasteh" neighborhoods were met with security force intervention. According to reports, live ammunition and pellet guns were used during the clashes, resulting in the deaths and injuries of a number of protesters.
2026 Iran war On 7 April 2026, city residents witnessed repeated fighter jet activity.
Demographics It is common to encounter people from various ethnic groups while strolling through Ahvaz's streets and markets.
Languages
Persian serves as the official language and is widely spoken across Ahvaz. Many Ahvazis are bilingual, speaking both Persian and one of the following languages/dialects. The Arabic spoken in Ahvaz is a variety of Khuzestani Arabic.Iranian Arabs parsine.com Retrieved 24 June 2018Khuzestani Arabs aparat.com Retrieved 24 June 2018Khuzestani Arabic isna.ir Retrieved 24 June 2018 Another part of Ahvazis speak the Bakhtiari dialect.Bakhtiari tribes kojaro.comBakhtiari aparat.comArab Kamari/Arab-Bakhtiari rangvarehayeyekrang.ir Neo-Mandaic, one of the Neo-Aramaic languages, is also spoken among the Mandaeans of Ahvaz. It is a descendant of the Mandaic language partially influenced by Khuzestani Persian.
Bridges