Ahvaz (Persian: اهواز; [ʔæhˈvɒːz] ) is a city in the Central District of Ahvaz County, Khuzestan province, Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is home to Persians, Arabs, Bakhtiaris, Dezfulis, Shushtaris, and others. Languages spoken in the area include Persian, Arabic, Luri and dialects such as Bakhtiari, Dezfuli and Shushtari.
Ahvaz is home to over 1.2 million people within its metropolitan area, including Sheybani. Census results suggest a steady increase in population. At the time of the National Census of 2006, the city had 969,843 inhabitants in 212,097 households; 1,112,021 people in 288,271 households in 2011; and in 2016 the census counted 1,184,788 people in 331,556 households.
The river Karun flows through the middle of the city. It is one of the two navigable rivers in Iran, alongside the Arvand Rud (Shatt al-Arab). Ahvaz 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.