CAPITAL OF THE KURDISH REGION OF IRAQ

Erbil, also called Hawler (Hewlêr), is one the oldest continuously-inhabited cities of the world, dating back to at least 6000 BC. The capital of the Iraqi Kurdish Region is also home to a variety of religious and ethnic minorities. Erbil was known in ancient history as Arbela, which is where it derives its modern name. This name is recorded in archives recovered from records dating back to the Assyrian Empire.



Modern Erbil

Erbil has developed into the largest metropolitan city in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Since 2003, the city has become a center for substantial real-estate, retail and commercial projects. For the past decade, Erbil has also hosted a growing expatriate population, for business, humanitarian and diplomatic sectors. It has also become a growing tourism hub, due in part to its historical sites.
The province’s districts include Soran, Shaqlawa, Mergasor, Rawanduz, Koya, Khabat, Choman, and Dashty Hawler.