Iraq to open new marina for 50 boats on Shatt al-Arab

Basra (IraqiNews.com) — Iraq is approaching completion of its biggest marina on the Shatt al-Arab canal, which the government believes would stimulate tourism and upgrade the country’s waterfront infrastructure. Ahmed Jassim, Director General of the state-owned General Company for Maritime Transport, said that the marina is under development and would be able to accommodate up to 50 boats once finished. According to Jassim, the marina would have international-standard tourist and recreational amenities, as well as a helicopter landing pad and associated infrastructure, making it Iraq’s first of its sort. He described the development as one of the Ministry of Transport’s flagship projects, stating that it will be inaugurated in the coming months. The marina, located on the Shatt al-Arab in the southern city of Basra, is part of Iraq’s larger attempts to improve transportation and tourist infrastructure, as the government wants to diversify the economy beyond oil and attract private investment in the hospitality and leisure sectors. The initiative comes as Baghdad ramps up investment in ports, logistics, and waterfront projects to cement Iraq’s position as a regional transportation center while also offering new chances for tourist and economic growth.