Until 27 October 1924, it was one of 5 district shuros in the Turkmen region of the Khorezm People's Soviet Republic (KPSR).

In July 1930, when Tashauz District was abolished, and it became directly subordinate to the government of the Turkmen SSR.

In December 1970, the district was transferred to the restored Tashauz region.

On 9 November 2022, the Turkmen parliament decreed the name be changed to Şabat, along with the district's eponymous capital city.

At the awards ceremony, the district was noted for having produced 41,500 tonnes of raw cotton and 32,000 tonnes of wheat in 2020, as well as "weighty" harvests of "potato and other vegetables.