Mosul entrepreneur crafts success with miniature landmarks business

MOSUL — Seven years ago, Hussein Tawfiq from Mosul began his journey in a small, two-square-meter workshop, crafting a miniature replica of the iconic Al-Hadba Minaret. After eight attempts, he succeeded in creating his first model. Today, Tawfiq manages “Dhi” artifacts, one of Iraq’s largest souvenir production projects, operating from a 450-square-meter factory with a team of 12 craftsmen and six designers from Mosul and Baghdad.

Located on the Mosul-Bashiqa Road in the Nineveh Plains, Tawfiq’s workshop produces replicas of significant Iraqi landmarks, offering souvenirs to foreign tourists. Since its inception, the workshop has created over 100 different items, with the aim of contributing to Iraq’s growing tourism sector.

Tawfiq shared with 964media that his business idea began in 2017, as he started crafting models of historical sites destroyed in Nineveh, including the Al-Hadba Minaret. “After successfully creating the first model, we expanded to include heritage sites from across Iraq,” he said.

The city of Mosul, which was captured by Islamic State militants in 2014 and liberated in 2017, has seen extensive efforts to restore its cultural heritage. Sites like the Al-Hadba Minaret, which was destroyed during the occupation, are currently undergoing restoration as part of the city’s recovery.

What started as a modest endeavor has evolved into a large operation, helping to introduce a new sector to the Iraqi market. Tawfiq and his team have participated in international workshops in Egypt and Russia to acquire new skills and improve their craft.

The products from “Dhi” artifacts are known for their high quality and affordability compared to imported souvenirs. Prices range from 8,000 to 50,000 Iraqi dinars ($5 to $33), with larger pieces selling for up to 200,000 dinars ($131). The workshop uses materials such as polyester fiberglass and silica powder, which are more expensive but offer superior durability and quality compared to foreign imports.

Tawfiq’s business has received support from both local and international institutions, which has helped his workshop reach markets across Iraq and beyond. “Any tourist who visits Nineveh and doesn’t buy one of our pieces will likely receive it as a gift from locals,” Tawfiq noted. In 2019, his workshop distributed 3,000 free items to foreign visitors as part of a campaign to promote tourism.

Looking ahead, Tawfiq plans to expand his production to include items representing cities such as Baghdad, Kirkuk, Basra, Sulaymaniyah, and Anbar. Among the workshop’s most notable pieces are replicas of Erbil’s Muzaffar Minaret, the Erbil Citadel, Taq Kasra in Salman Pak, and statues of the Lamassu and Ashurbanipal.

Each piece is crafted with care, and while skilled artisans can produce an item in just 20 minutes, new craftsmen require extensive training to master the techniques unique to Tawfiq’s workshop. “We mix raw materials with our special blends, pour them into molds, then shape, paint, and package them for customers,” Tawfiq explained.

Although his products are sold throughout Iraq, Tawfiq hopes to expand his business internationally, aiming to compete with cheaper imported goods that often sell for a quarter of the price. He plans to establish direct sales points in the U.S., Australia, and Gulf countries and hopes to sell his products on Amazon.

Current demand is highest for models of the Hammurabi Stele, the Lamassu, the Ziggurat of Ur—visited by Pope Francis in 2021—and replicas of the Ishtar Gate. Tawfiq also intends to introduce items representing the southern Iraqi marshlands due to their cultural significance.

Tawfiq’s workshop collaborates with renowned sculptors and engravers, ready to create any model that promotes Iraqi tourism. His factory is also the first in the region to produce models related to religious tourism, including replicas of the shrines of Imam Ali, Imam Hussein, and Imam Abbas.