Huwala people

Huwala (Arabic: الهولة, sing. Huwali هولي) also collectively referred to as Bani Huwala, are Arabian Iranians of tribal lineage who initially migrated to Iran in the 13th and 14th century and intermixed with the indigenous population of older Arabic-speaking background. Such migrations continued till around 19th century to the area which is now Iran's Hormozgan province and Fars province, mainly Bandar Abbas, Qishm, and the mainland near Bandar Lengeh. The Huwala follow Sunni Islam, like most Peninsular Arabs, and as opposed to the majority of Persians, who are Twelver Shia. Most of the Huwala have remigrated back to the Arabian Peninsula between late 19th century and early 20th century. The imposition of restrictive economic policies by Reza Shah in the 1930s led to the migration of most of the rest of the Huwala back to the Arabian Peninsula.

The term "Huwala" does not refer to Sunni Larestani Achomi families such as Awadhi, Kandari, Janahi, Khaloori, Zarooni, and Bastaki. It specifically refers to the actual Arab Huwalas (Arab El-Sahel), which encompasses the Qawasem, Hammadi, Al Nasur/Nassour, Obaidli, and Bani Tamim tribes.

The original Huwalas have commonly been referred to as "the Arabs of the Eastern Coast" (Arabic: عرب الساحل الشرقي), or simply "Arabs of Persia" (Arabic: عرب فارس), but some of them prefer not to be called Huwalas as the term is used for Achomis in the Gulf. On the other hand, Achomis sometimes choose to identify themselves as Huwalas due to societal pressure to assimilate.

Although Huwalas and Achomis have lived in close proximity to each other in Southern Iran, they are genetically dissimilar. Huwalas are relatively recent inhabitants of Southern Iran migrating from Arabia over the past five centuries. However, some have been residing there since the Sassanians, such as the Bani Tamim tribe.

Some families of non-Arab origins have adopted the surnames of Arabian Huwala tribes. For example, they are often Hammadi and Marzooqi only in name.