Kurdistan region ready to receive half a million Iranian visitors

ERBIL, August 14 — The Kurdistan region has finalized its preparations to welcome close to half a million Iranian visitors who are expected to enter Iraq through the Haji Omaran border crossing to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage to the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala.

An official media source stated that the visitors will be transported from the border to Erbil city, and then on to Baghdad via special buses. A majority of the visitors are believed to be from Iran’s northern provinces.

Visitor arrivals are expected to commence August 18.

Sirwan Barzani, media spokesperson for the Haji Omaran crossing, stated:

It is expected that visitors from provinces such as West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, and Zanjan will enter through the Haji Omaran border crossing, and around half a million visitors are expected to enter during the Arbaeen pilgrimage through this crossing.

The visitors will be transported from Haji Omaran to the Sami Abdulrahman Park International Exhibition Grounds in Erbil using special buses provided by the Ministry of Transportation; then they will be further transported to Baghdad.

The Haji Omaran border crossing has completed all preparations, including increasing the number of computer terminals, accommodation facilities, and seats, in addition to a large bus depot.

The Arbaeen pilgrimage to the Imam Hussein shrine is expected to commence on September 6, 2023. Shia’ followers from around the world will converge on Karbala to visit the holy shrine.