The particle velocity and flow pattern of particles in fluidized beds of iron particles (230 4m) were investigated under the influence of an external uniform axial magnetic field. A uniform magnetic field was generated by passing a direct current through five solenoids. A sensitive optical measuring system, based on the detection of light reflected by particles, was used to measure the particle velocity in the dense phase. The particle velocity was measured as a function of the superficial fluidizing air velocity, magnetic field intensity and position in the bed. The experimental results revealed that the particle velocity was zero in a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB). The particle velocity in a magnetized bubbling fluidized bed (MBFB) decreased as the magnetic field intensity and radial distance from the axis of bed column increased, and as the superficial gas velocity, and axial distance from the distributor decreased. The magnitude and direction of the particle velocity were calculated by using the equation: V-p = L-ef/(tau(r)(2) + tau(r)(2))(1/2) and theta = tan(-1)(tau(z)/tau(r),). The following general correlation was developed to predict the axial transit time (tau(z)): 1/tau(z) = 1/tau(zc) - (1/tau(zc) -1/tau(zw)) (r/R)(B), where tau(zc) and tau(zw) represent the axial transit time at the bed center and at the bed wall, respectively, and B is a parameter. All were functions of the air velocity, the distance from the distributor and the magnetic field intensity, and all had similar forms as follows : A1(z/h(s))(A2)(U-s/U-mf)(A3) {exp[A4(z/h(s))+A5(U-s/U-mf)]} H-A6. Results obtained in time-averaged particle velocity experiments were close to those obtained through simulation.