Iraq is enjoying a revival in overseas tourism following 20 years of invasion, occupation, civil unrest and a violent extremist insurgency. Here, tourists visit the Ishtar Gate, the eighth gate to the ancient city of Babylon, situated about 100 kilometres south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. All photos by AFP
Iraq is enjoying a revival in overseas tourism following 20 years of invasion, occupation, civil unrest and a violent extremist insurgency. Here, tourists visit the Ishtar Gate, the eighth gate to the ancient city of Babylon, situated about 100 kilometres south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. All photos by AFP
Many western governments advise their citizens not to travel to Iraq given the danger of kidnapping and insurgent bomb attacks. Foreigners are not deterred, choosing to visit the city of Babylon to see its 4,000 years of history.
Many western governments advise their citizens not to travel to Iraq given the danger of kidnapping and insurgent bomb attacks. Foreigners are not deterred, choosing to visit the city of Babylon to see its 4,000 years of history.
In a world that shares on social media, tourists are beginning to enjoy the cachet of their visits to an ancient city like Babylon. Bloggers say they are struck by Iraqis' kindness and hospitality.
In a world that shares on social media, tourists are beginning to enjoy the cachet of their visits to an ancient city like Babylon. Bloggers say they are struck by Iraqis' kindness and hospitality.
Some western countries still formally advise against travelling to Iraq, the cradle of civilisations, but Baghdad continues to revive its tourism sector and finds many eager visitors.
Some western countries still formally advise against travelling to Iraq, the cradle of civilisations, but Baghdad continues to revive its tourism sector and finds many eager visitors.
Iraq has many World Heritage Sites, and cities like ancient city of Babylon have weathered centuries of war, peace, poverty and upheaval. Now they attract bloggers, vloggers and YouTube programme makers who take their adventures to a wider audience.
Iraq has many World Heritage Sites, and cities like ancient city of Babylon have weathered centuries of war, peace, poverty and upheaval. Now they attract bloggers, vloggers and YouTube programme makers who take their adventures to a wider audience.
Emma Witters, 54, a YouTube video maker from Hawick in Scotland, visits the National Museum of Baghdad. Tourism authorities in Iraq said 107,000 foreign travellers came to Iraq in 2021, more than three times the number in 2020.
Emma Witters, 54, a YouTube video maker from Hawick in Scotland, visits the National Museum of Baghdad. Tourism authorities in Iraq said 107,000 foreign travellers came to Iraq in 2021, more than three times the number in 2020.
A street in the ancient city of Babylon. As tourism to Iraq is revived, many businesses are urging their government to respond by improving facilities for visitors.
A street in the ancient city of Babylon. As tourism to Iraq is revived, many businesses are urging their government to respond by improving facilities for visitors.
A tourist photographs the ruins left by years of conflict in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. In June 2017, the Unesco listed Al Nuri Mosque, famed for its leaning minaret, was destroyed by ISIS occupiers.
A tourist photographs the ruins left by years of conflict in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. In June 2017, the Unesco listed Al Nuri Mosque, famed for its leaning minaret, was destroyed by ISIS occupiers.
A guide speaks to foreign tourists visiting the ancient city of Babylon. A mini-boom in tourism to Iraq began when Iraq began granting visas to visitors from a dozen countries last year.
A guide speaks to foreign tourists visiting the ancient city of Babylon. A mini-boom in tourism to Iraq began when Iraq began granting visas to visitors from a dozen countries last year.
A tourist shoots photos of the destruction caused by years of conflict in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
A tourist shoots photos of the destruction caused by years of conflict in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
Tourists pose for a picture with member of the Iraqi security forces in the northern city of Mosul.
Tourists pose for a picture with member of the Iraqi security forces in the northern city of Mosul.
A foreign tourist examines an artefact at Beitna - 'Our house' in Arabic. Beitna is a cafe and cultural meeting place in Mosul.
A foreign tourist examines an artefact at Beitna - 'Our house' in Arabic. Beitna is a cafe and cultural meeting place in Mosul.
Foreign tourists and envoys from Unesco visit a warehouse containing remains of archaeological artifacts from Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul, northern Iraq.
Foreign tourists and envoys from Unesco visit a warehouse containing remains of archaeological artifacts from Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul, northern Iraq.
Spanish visitors to the Marshes of Jabayesh in southern Iraq tour the area by boat.
Spanish visitors to the Marshes of Jabayesh in southern Iraq tour the area by boat.
The Great Ziggurat temple at the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province. Ur, the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, is attracting westerners after Pope Francis visited in 2021.
The Great Ziggurat temple at the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province. Ur, the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, is attracting westerners after Pope Francis visited in 2021.
Spanish visitors tour the Great Ziggurat temple at the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province.
Spanish visitors tour the Great Ziggurat temple at the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province.
Spanish visitors of the Marshes of Jabayesh in southern Iraq tour the area by boat.
Spanish visitors of the Marshes of Jabayesh in southern Iraq tour the area by boat.
The Great Ziggurat temple at the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province.
The Great Ziggurat temple at the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province.
Spanish visitors tour the Great Ziggurat temple in the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province.
Spanish visitors tour the Great Ziggurat temple in the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province.

MENA

Iraq

Tourists gradually return to Iraq - in pictures

Visitor numbers on the increase after 20 years of invasion and insurgency

The National

March 30, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

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Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
TO%20CATCH%20A%20KILLER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDamian%20Szifron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shailene%20Woodley%2C%20Ben%20Mendelsohn%2C%20Ralph%20Ineson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Afghan%20connection
%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
FA Cup quarter-final draw

The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March

Sheffield United v Arsenal

Newcastle v Manchester City

Norwich v Derby/Manchester United

Leicester City v Chelsea

Racecard

6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m 

7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m 

7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m 

8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 

8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m 

9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m 

10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m  

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
MIDWAY

Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
%3Cp%3EDisplay%3A%2040mm%2C%20324%20x%20394%3B%2044mm%2C%20368%20x%20448%3B%20Retina%20LTPO%20OLED%2C%20up%20to%201000%20nits%3B%20Ion-X%20glass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EProcessor%3A%20Apple%20S8%2C%20W3%20wireless%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECapacity%3A%2032GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMemory%3A%201GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPlatform%3A%20watchOS%209%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EHealth%20metrics%3A%202nd-gen%20heart%20rate%20sensor%2C%20workouts%2C%20fall%2Fcrash%20detection%3B%20emergency%20SOS%2C%20international%20emergency%20calling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EConnectivity%3A%20GPS%2FGPS%20%2B%20cellular%3B%20Wi-Fi%2C%20LTE%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Apple%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDurability%3A%20Water%20resistant%20up%20to%2050m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%20269mAh%20Li-ion%2C%20up%20to%2018h%2C%20wireless%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECards%3A%20eSIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFinishes%3A%20Aluminium%3B%20midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%20Watch%20SE%2C%20magnetic-to-USB-C%20charging%20cable%2C%20band%2Floop%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPrice%3A%20Starts%20at%20Dh999%20(40mm)%20%2F%201%2C119%20(44mm)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: March 30, 2022, 1:24 PM`
IraqPhotographyTourism