The Durrānī (Pashto: دراني, pronounced [durɑˈni]¹), formerly known as Abdālī (ابدالي), are one of the largest tribal confederation of Pashtuns. Their traditional homeland is in southern Afghanistan (Loy Kandahar region), straddling into Toba Achakzai in Balochistan, Pakistan, but they are also settled in other parts of Afghanistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Ahmad Shah Durrani, who is considered the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan, belonged to the Abdali tribe. In 1747 after establishing the Durrani Empire based in Kandahar, he adopted the epithet Shāh Durr-i-Durrān, "King, Pearl of Pearls," and changed the name of his Tareen Abdali tribe to "Durrani" after himself.

The origins of the Durrani, formerly known as the Abdali, are unclear and there is no consensus among scholars.

Many scholars such as Georg Morgenstierne, Aydogdy Kurbanov, Charles Masson, Henry Walter Bellew, Joseph T. Arlinghaus and Yu. V. Gankovsky have suggested that the Durranis are descended from the Hephthalites. The evidence for this includes the phonological similarity of the Hephthalites' endonym, Ebodalo, to the name Abdali. However, this theory has remained a matter of debate.

The Abdalis were recorded to have been a Sheep herding nomadic tribe, According to some traditions, the Abdalis migrated to southern Afghanistan in early 15th century, probably migrating from Ghor. One of the earliest mention of Abdalis is during the early 16th century, When Shah Abbas I bestowed supreme command of it to Sado, chief of the Popalzai tribe, With the title Mir-i Afāghina. According to Safavid sources, it suggests that there was some kind of political unity that have been established among Abdali tribes. This union was established to probably fight against rival tribes such as the Yusufzai, Muhammad and others. The Abdalis were successful at displacing these rival tribes with the aid of the Safavids. some of the Abdali tribal confederation lived in east of Kandahar. By the 18th century, many Abdali tribes were displaced by the Ghalji tribe, they were forced to migrate to Mountains of Herat region. There they were able to take control of the region and established the Abdali principality of Herat. The Abdali tribal confederation increased in numbers, due to many other local tribes in Herat region joining the Abdali tribal confederation. The principality was short lived as it was conquered by Nader Shah Afshar. Nader Shah recruited many Abdali tribesmen into his army. one of the Abdali tribal contingent commander was Ahmad Khan, the second son of Muhammad Zaman Khan chief of the Sadozai branch of Abdalis. Due to their service in the Afsharid army, Nader Shah rewarded the Abdalis by restoring their lands in Kandahar.

In 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani established the Durrani Empire with its capital at Kandahar. He adopted the title Shāh Durr-i-Durrān, "King, Pearl of Pearls," and changed the name of his tribe "Abdali" to "Durrani" after himself.

Ahmad Shah is now regarded as the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan. Within a few years, he extended his control from Khorasan in the west to Kashmir and North India in the east, and from the Amu Darya in the north to the Arabian Sea in the south.

In 1823, Emir Dost Mohammad Khan, who belonged to the Barakzai tribe of Durranis, founded the Barakzai dynasty centered at Kabul. Thereafter, his descendants ruled in direct succession until 1929 when King Amanullah Khan, under whom Afghanistan gained independence over its foreign policy from the British Raj, was forced to abdicate and his cousin Mohammed Nadir Shah was later elected king. The Barakzai dynasty ruled present-day Afghanistan until 1973 when Mohammed Zahir Shah, the last Barakzai king, was overthrown in a bloodless coup by his cousin Mohammed Daoud Khan. The coup ended the Barakzai kingdom and established the Republic of Afghanistan (1973—1978).