From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi’s football fans enjoy their first international match in over 20 years, after FIFA lifted a ban on the war-torn country. Iraq was prohibited from hosting international games since the early 1990s until FIFA […]
Archive | Leisure and Tourism in Iraq
Iraq Business News brings you the latest news on developments and opportunities in leisure and tourism industries in Iraq.
Tikrit turns Saddam’s Palaces into Tourist Attractions
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. By Ghazwan Hassan al-Jibouri. The despised ex-leader of Iraq built luxurious palaces with hundreds of rooms in Tikrit, near his hometown. Now the local council wants them turned into money-making […]
Video: Basra Moggies set paw in Iraq’s first Cat Hotel
From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Basra moggies set paw in Iraq’s first cat hotel: View on YouTube
One of Iraq’s Best-Loved Tourist Resorts Slowly Returns to Life
This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. By Kamal al-Ayash. One of the country’s best known resorts, where different community groups used to holiday together, is slowly coming back to life, after several years in the middle […]
Baghdad’s Quality of Living Ranking …
By John Lee. Baghdad has again been ranked as the city with the world’s worst quality of living, according to the Mercer 2018 Quality of Living Survey. Just ahead of it in the table of 231 cities are Sana’a in Yemen and Bangui in the Central African Republic. Vienna again retains the top spot; Zurich […]
FIFA Lifts Ban on Iraq Hosting Int’l Matches
By John Lee. Soccer’s governing body FIFA has lifted its three-decade ban on Iraq hosting international football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is quoted as saying that this will allow international matches to be played in Erbil, Basra (pictured) and Karbala, where the security situation was considered to be “stable“, but not yet in Baghdad. Iraq […]
Saudi Arabia to Fund Iraqi Football Stadium
By John Lee. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has promised to build a football stadium in Iraq. The news followed a friendly match between the two countries’ teams in Basra last week. The Iraqi-Saudi Ministerial Coordination Council met on Monday to discuss the measures needed to improve cooperation in the economic, investment, cultural and other sectors. […]
“Severe Punishment” for Price Hikes Targeting Tourists
By John Lee. Erbil’s mayor has reportedly warned hotel and motel operators against taking advantage of the increased numbers of tourists by driving up prices and breaking contracts: Nabaz Abdulhamid told Rudaw: “Any hotel or motel owner that hikes up the prices and revokes the signed contracts will be punished severely.” In the past three […]
Conserving Iran and Iraq’s Wetlands
There’s growing awareness in the Islamic Republic of Iran that wetlands are valuable and sustain livelihoods. Ramsar, “the gem of northern Iran”, is the town that gives its name to the Ramsar Convention. The Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use […]
NIC Announces 157 Major Strategic Projects in Iraq
By John Lee. Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC) has just announced the list of major strategic projects to be presented during the Kuwait International Conference for Iraq Reconstruction, to be held in Kuwait from 12th to 14th February. The 157 large- and medium-sized projects span all sectors of the Iraqi economy, including oil and gas, […]
Mövenpick Signs Basra Hotel Deal
Swiss-based Mövenpick has signed a deal to manage a five-star, 152-key hotel in Basra, Iraq”s economic capital and a regional oil and gas hub. The Mövenpick Hotel Basra is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2018. Located in the center of Basra, within the commercial district of Al Baradi’yah and 25km west of […]
Video: River Cruise Weddings return to Basra
From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. To the sound of drums and trumpets, an Iraqi groom and his bride this week stepped hand-in-hand onto a speed boat on the river in Basra to celebrate: Click here to view on YouTube.