The small feudal state Qutqashen Sultanate was established on the territory of Qabala in the mid 18th century.

Most of Gabala district is composed of mountains which begin from the highlands of the South slope of the north part of the Caucasus spreading to the central part of Alazan-Haftaran (Ganikh-Ayrichay) valley, the south part spreads from frontal highlands of Ajinohur to Gabala high plateau and the south border of this high plateau substitutes orographic units of Surkhaykhan (Akhar-Bakhar) chain of mountains up to watershed.

Saral, Choban baba, Muchug, Tufan and Aghbulag mountain ranges all together form branches of the watershed of Greater Caucasus which encompasses the territory of the region as a chain from the west to the east.

The hilly relief forms in the territory of Gabala alternate one another from highlands to intermontane valleys, from deep scattered precipitous ravines to plane surfaced plateaus.

The highest peaks of the Great Caucasus within Azerbaijan is also located in this region (in the northern borders of Gabala).

[3] The mountainous relief forms and high humidity of climate in the Gabala district is the primary reason for the formation of a thick river network in this region.

[3] Gabala district is located in Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region in the north-western part of Azerbaijan (southern hills of Great Caucasus Mountains).

[6][7][8] International Jam Festival is another event that takes place in the Gabala district on a regular basis.

Since 2014, the audience of the event increased and more than 20 cities and districts of Azerbaijan and foreign countries participated in the festival.

In 2016, participants from Turkey, Iran, Russia, Northern Cyprus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, China, as well as participants from 30 cities and regions of Azerbaijan attended the festival and demonstrated jams prepared from various fruits, vegetables and even flowers such as cherry, blackberry, strawberry, quince walnut, apricot, rose, plum, violets, mint, rose hips, corn, wild green plum, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, yellow raspberries, aubergines, and melons.

[9][10][11] The natural climatic conditions, numerous historical monuments, sightseeing places and artefacts in the ancient capital of Caucasian Albania creates great tourism opportunities which have caused the rapid increase in the number of tourism-recreational complexes in the private sector.

[12] Qabala has a humid subtropical climate that is mild with no dry season, constantly moist (year-round rainfall).

According to the Holdridge life zones system of bioclimatic classification Qabala is situated in or near the warm temperate thorn steppe biome.

Gutgashinli which are branches of Historical Ethnography Museum according to Gabala region Culture and Tourism Sector.

There are 93 historical-cultural immovable monuments in the local area under state protection according to order #132 dated 02.08.2001 by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

[17] Qabala has a professional football team Gabala FC who currently play in the top division of Azerbaijan.

Gabala is the hometown of the Azerbaijani Major General Polad Hashimov who was killed on July 14 during the Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes on the state border in Tovuz.