Oran

Oran وهران (Wahrān)
City
The Oran Waterfront
Oran
Coordinates: 35°41′49″N 0°37′59″W
Country	Algeria
Province	Oran Province
Founded	903 AD
Government
• Mayor	(Local Wali/Mayor)
Area
• Total	161 km2 (62 sq mi)
Elevation	60 m (200 ft)
Population  (2026)
• Total	983,000
• Density	6,100/km2 (16,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Orani, Oranais
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)

View at Oran

Oran (Arabic: وهران - Wahrān, Berber: ⵡⴰⵀⵔⴻⵏ - Wahren) is a large Algerian city that is located on the North West coast of the country. It is the second largest city in the country other than capital, Algiers. It is another significant business, cultural and educational hub.

History

Oran is not a young country, but has been governed by a great number of various peoples:

• Establishment: The city was established in 903 AD by the traders of Andalusia.
• Spanish Rule: In the year 1509, Spain conquered the city. They constructed numerous forts and occupied them a period of three hundred years.
• Ottoman Rule: Ottoman Empire assumed control of the city in the year 1792 after an enormous earthquake left much of the Spanish structures in ruins.
• French Rule: In 1831 France conquered Oran. The city developed at a very rapid pace under the French rule and became a modern port.
• Independence: Algeria gained its independence in 1962 out of France and Oran became a major city to the new state.

Geography and Climate

Oran is situated at the Mediterranean Sea. It lies some 432 kilometers (268 miles) west of Algiers.

• Climate: Climate of the city is hot semi-arid. This implies that the summer seasons are hot and dry and winter seasons are mild. It receives very little rainfall which is approximately, 326 mm (12.8 inches) in one year.
• Population: The metro area is expected to be home to approximately 983,000 people in 2026.

Economy and Transport

Oran is considered to be one of the busiest North African ports. It is an exporter of lots of things, which include:

• Oil and gas
• Vegetables, wine and wheat.
• Iron oreModern tram system and international airport, named Ahmed Ben Bella Airport, are available in the city. It is also a great transit point of trains and highways linking Algeria with Morocco and Tunisia.

Famous Places

Oran is renowned with its beautiful architectural structures and landmarks:

• Fort Santa Cruz: This was a huge Spanish fort which was situated at the sea level on a hill.
• Place du 1er Novembre: It is the central city with a beautiful opera house located in the main square of the city.
• Sidi El Houari: This is the oldest section of the city, which is named after the Oran patron saint.
• The Great Mosque: It was initially constructed in the year 1796 in order to mark the completion of the Spanish rule.
• Promenade de Létang: This is an expansive park that has a splendid view of the port.

Culture

Oran is considered the Paris in Algeria due to its vibrant night life and arts. It is the land of Raï music one of the renowned folk music popular in the entire world today.

Key Facts Table

Feature	Information
Country	Algeria
Founded	903 AD
Population (2026)	~983,000
Language	Arabic, French, Berber
Famous Music	Raï

Oran rail station

References

• Arabic and French Wikipedias.

Other websites

• Official website