Oran, also Wahran, city, northwestern Algeria, capital of Oran Province, on the Gulf of Oran (an arm of the Mediterranean Sea). It is one of the nation's busiest ports and a commercial and manufacturing center. Products include plastic items, chemicals, wine, and processed food. A pipeline carries natural gas to the city from the Sahara.
Oran was founded at the beginning of the 10th century by Andalusian merchants as a base for trade with the North African hinterland, and it developed commercially owing to its sea connections with Europe. It became the port for the North African kingdom of Tlemcen in 1437 and also was an entrepôt for trade with the Sudan.
The industrial part of Oran, in the outlying south-southeastern districts, contains hundreds of small food-processing and diversified manufacturing plants. The port's principal exports are wine, cereals, vegetables, and fruits. Population: 609,823.