Iraq expects record 22 million pilgrims for Arbaeen

Shiite Muslim pilgrims gather between the shrines of Imam Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas and Imam Hussein in Iraq’s central holy city of Karbala. Photo: AFP Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq is prepared to welcome around 22 million pilgrims for this year’s Arbaeen pilgrimage, including up to 5 million overseas tourists, in what officials believe to be one of the country’s greatest religious gatherings and a significant boost to tourism and the local economy. According to Iraqi official data, well over 22 million people are anticipated to attend the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Karbala, with 4.5 million to 5 million pilgrims coming from outside Iraq. The government has announced that tens of thousands of volunteers would be deployed to assist pilgrims, and Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has urged officials to boost the number of buses and other transport services to facilitate travel during the festival. The surge of foreign tourists is projected to have a substantial impact on Iraq’s tourism, hospitality, transportation, and retail industries, with hotels, restaurants, transit operators, and local businesses benefitting from increased demand during the pilgrimage season. Officials have extended transportation networks in preparation for this year’s pilgrimage, including more rail services, buses, and logistical assistance, as part of larger measures to boost connectivity and promote Iraq’s tourist industry. The government has increasingly highlighted religious tourism as a crucial pillar of economic diversification, with millions of people visiting the country’s holy sites at Karbala, Najaf, Kadhimiya, and Samarra each year. According to officials, continuing investment in infrastructure and tourist services will help Iraq become one of the Middle East’s major religious tourism destinations, while also creating jobs and helping local economies around the country.