Erbil

Erbil is the romanization of the city's Ottoman Turkish name اربيل, still used as the city's name in official English translation. The Modern Standard Arabic form of the name is Arbīl (أربيل). In classical antiquity, it was known as Arbela in Latin and Arbēla (Ἄρβηλα) in Greek, derived from Old Persian Arbairā (𐎠𐎼𐎲𐎡𐎼𐎠𐏓), from Assyrian Arbaʾilu, from Sumerian Urbilum (𒌨𒉈𒈝𒆠, ur-bi₂-lumki).

Erbil was among the earliest regions of agricultural settlement during the Neolithic period, marking a significant stage in the development of human civilization in Mesopotamia. The region in which Erbil lies was largely under Sumerian domination from c. 3000 BC. With the rise of the Akkadian Empire (2335–2154 BC) all of the Akkadian Semites and Sumerians of Mesopotamia were united under one rule. Erridupizir, king of the kingdom of Gutium, captured the city in 2150 BC. The first mention of Erbil in literary sources comes from the archives of the kingdom of Ebla. They record two journeys to Erbil (Irbilum) by a messenger from Ebla around 2300 BFC. The Neo-Sumerian ruler of Ur, Amar-Sin, sacked Urbilum in his second year, c. 1975 BC. In the centuries after the fall of the Ur III empire Erbil became a power in its area. …

Erbil has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa), closely bordering a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh) with long, extremely hot summers and mild winters. Summers are arid, with little to no precipitation occurring between June and September. Winters are usually wet with occasional flooding, with January being the wettest month. A downpour on 17 December 2021 caused flash floods in the area, killing 14 people.

The Citadel of Erbil is a tell or occupied mound in the historical heart of Erbil, rising between 25 and 32 metres (82 and 105 ft) from the surrounding plain. The buildings on top of the tell stretch over a roughly oval area of 430 by 340 metres (1,410 ft × 1,120 ft) occupying 102,000 square metres (1,100,000 sq ft). It has been claimed that the site is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the world. The earliest evidence for occupation of the citadel mound dates to the fifth millennium BC and possibly earlier. It appears for the first time in historical sources during the Ur III period and gained particular importance during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (tenth to seventh centuries BC) period. West of the citadel at Ary Kon quarter, a chamber tomb dating to the Neo-Assyrian Empire period has been excavated. …

Agriculture has been a significant economic sector in Erbil in the past. Today, through its architectural heritage, ancient sites, traditional bazaars, historical mosques, and modern cultural centers, tourism forms a major part of Erbil’s economy, besides its big oil and gas industry. In recent years, foreign and domestic investments in infrastructure, hotels, and entertainment facilities have further strengthened Erbil’s position as a growing tourist destination in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Between 2007 and 2009, the General Directorate of Urban Planning (GDUP) in the Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism (MoMT) developed the Erbil Master Plan. Over the years, investments from Turkey and the Gulf countries led to accelerated urban sprawl and an unexpected population increase, which made the original plan unsustainable. …

Erbil International Airport is one of Iraq's busiest airports. Services include direct flights to many domestic destinations such as Baghdad international airport. There are international flights from Erbil to many countries; such as the Netherlands, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Turkey, Jordan and elsewhere around the world. There are occasionally seasonal flights from Erbil international airport. Erbil International Airport was briefly closed to international commercial flights in September 2017 by the Iraqi government in retaliation for the Kurdish independence vote but reopened in March 2018. Another important form of transportation between Erbil and the surrounding areas is by bus. Among others, bus services offer connections to Turkey and Iran. A new bus terminal was opened in 2014. Erbil has a system of six ring roads encircling the city.