Iraq Business News brings you the latest news on developments and opportunities in leisure and tourism industries in Iraq.
By John Lee. Arab Bridge Maritime, the joint venture established by the governments of Iraq, Jordan and Egypt in 1985, is planning a two ferry service between Basra and Dubai. The venture will initially cost $2 million per year based on the hiring cost of the ferries, and if successful the ferries will be purchased, […]
By Omar al-Jaffal for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi Youth Turn to Bingo-like Game to Forget their Worries The lounge at the playwrights’ club in central Baghdad’s Karada district offers alcoholic beverages and dambala, a game similar to bingo. The […]
The opening of Grand Millennium Sulaimani Hotel in Sulaimani, Iraq, took place on March 2nd, 2014. VIPs, guests and media across the country witnessed the grand opening of what is to become the benchmark of hospitality in Kurdistan and Iraq, and an architectural landmark for Sulaimani. Grand Millennium Sulaimani is today the tallest hotel in […]
Iraq is not currently the obvious choice for a ski holiday but the Korek Mountain Resort in Kurdistan is hoping to change that. The $95m resort in northern Iraq threw a pre-launch party as part of the government's plan to make the region a major tourist destination. However with ongoing security concerns in southern Iraq, […]
By John Lee. The National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad may reopen in April, having been closed since being partially damaged and ransacked in 2003. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, museum director Qais Rashid said the museum was being rebuilt with cooperation from Italy, adding that the final step of the planned renovation would be the […]
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. Erbil’s Big Challenge: Tourists vs. Locals in Fight for Facilities This year the northern Iraqi Kurdish city of Erbil must live up to its hard won title, Capital of […]
By John Lee. Preparations are underway to open a new aquarium at al-Zawraa Park in central Baghdad, according to a report from Interpark. Baghdad mayor, Naeem al-Kaabi, told the Mawtani news agency that he has invited investors and specialised firms to submit their offers to design and implement the project. Officials said they hoped the […]
By John Lee. The Basra Investment Commission has reportedly approved a number of projects including the construction of a 25-storey hotel and a shopping mall. According to a report from Zawya, Commission Chairman Ali Gasib said the luxury hotel would be located near the Shatt Al Arab river, while the shopping facility would be situated […]
By John Lee. Hill International has announced that it has received a contract from the Iraq Ministry of Youth and Sports to provide design, review, and construction management services in connection with the Al Samawah Olympic Stadium in Samawah, Iraq. The 28-month contract has an estimated value to Hill of approximately IQD 2.6 billion ($2.2 […]
Travel experts and companies from around the world attended the Kurdistan International Tourism Conference in Erbil last week, paving the way for Erbil's position as Middle East Tourism Capital of 2014. The Head of the General Board of Tourism, Mawlawi Wahab made the opening remarks and welcomed the delegates who included officials from the federal […]
By John Lee. Hotel management company Rotana has opened its second property in Iraq. The Karbala Rayhaan is a five-star property in the tourist city of Karbala, which attracts more than 12 million visitors a year. Omer Kaddouri, executive vice president and chief operating officer, said: “In 2012 Iraq posted a GDP growth rate of […]
Ask anyone where the most expensive property is in Iraq and you might expect to hear Baghdad, the capital, or Basra, the hub of the southern oil industry. But according to this report, the highest prices are being paid for development land in Karbala, site of the shrine of Imam al-Hussein, the grandson of the […]
