Hoveyda was born in Damascus on 23 September 1924 where his father, Habibollah Hoveyda, was the Consul-General of Persia.[1] His mother was Afsar-ol-Molouk Fatmeh, a Qajar princess. Upon marriage his father was given the title of Ayn al-Molk (Eye of the Kingdom) by the Qajar ruler of the country.