Arak is the center of the Iranian province of Markazi. Arak is one of the main industrial cities of Iran possessing many plants for heavy industries especially for the metal and machinery industries. Arak's old name was Soltan-abad.

Arak has the largest industrial companies of Iran such as:

1. machin sazi arak (?)
2. azarab factory (?)
3. vagon pars (prouducing train & vagon) (?)
4. Arak petrocimical factory (20 km away from Arak)
5. Arak oil refinery