Vedi district was established on September 9, 1930. The center of the district with an area of 1399 km² was Boyuk Vedi. The distance from there to Iravan is 49 km.

The Vedi district is located in the Aghrı valley, which is a lowland plain between Western Azerbaijan and Türkiye. The length of this plain is 90 km, the height above sea level is 850-1000 meters. Aras river also flows through this plain. The plain is surrounded by Mount Aghri from the southern side. The Vedi River flows through the region and flows into the Aras River in Shidli village.

The territory of the district was historically included in the Vedibasar district of the Iravan khanate, and during Tsarist Russia it was part of the Iravan district of the Iravan governorate.

In 1937, the Vedi district was divided into two parts and Karabakhlar district was created on its territory. After the deportation of Azerbaijanis, in 1951, Karabakhlar district was re-united to Vedi district. In 1964, the Vedi district was abolished and merged with the already Armenianized Gamarli district. After a short time, Vedi district was again organized as an independent district.

The toponym is derived from the Arabic word “vadi” which means “desert”, “location, place”. By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated May 5, 1968, the name of the district was changed to “Ararat”.

Since 1987, the native inhabitants of the district – Azerbaijanis were forced to leave their places of residence. In 1995, the district was abolished and included in the administrative territory of Ararat province of Armenia.