Italian heritage delegation explores restoration of historic Al-Khamisiyah

DHI QAR — A delegation from the Italy-based Heritage International Institute visited the ruins of Al-Khamisiyah in Dhi Qar governorate this week to assess the site’s potential for restoration and integration into global tourism routes. The visit also included nearby marshland areas such as Um al-Wada’ and Al-Nawashi, where the team reviewed archaeological and heritage landmarks.

The delegation is exploring collaboration with Iraqi antiquities authorities to digitally document and eventually restore the sites using advanced technology. “We are here to assess and diagnose archaeological sites in these areas and study the feasibility of restoration using virtual technology to determine what can realistically be done in the future,” said Sergio Iovino, CEO of the Heritage International Institute. “The aim of this work is to draw tourists in the near future by highlighting what exists at these sites. We hope to return regularly and play an active role soon.”

Filippo Giacotti, the institute’s deputy director, said the visit marks the beginning of a broader cultural partnership. “The first step will be through exchanging expertise in handicrafts, music, and sustainable agriculture by facilitating collaboration between Iraqi and Italian teams,” he said. “We are working to expand cultural cooperation, including trainee exchanges between Iraqi and Italian youth.”

Ayoob Kareem, director of antiquities in Souq al-Shouyoukh, welcomed the initiative. “We welcome the Heritage International Institute, represented by the Italian delegation, to Al-Khamisiyah in Souq al-Shouyoukh district to digitally archive archaeological sites and heritage buildings using modern technology that enables public access to Iraqi antiquities and historical architecture,” he said.

Al-Khamisiyah, located about 17 kilometers south of Souq al-Shouyoukh, was founded nearly 150 years ago by businesswoman Haila al-Shamali, merchant Abdullah Al-Khamis, and tribal leaders from the Al-Mutlaq family. It quickly developed into a key trading hub connecting the marshes with the western desert and reaching into the Arabian Peninsula. Goods from Kuwait, Zubair and Basra were exchanged with marshland communities, attracting the interest of the ruling Al-Saadoun princes.

Historical records describe Haila al-Shamali as a prominent merchant who personally managed her affairs and was known for wearing a traditional male headband, or iqaal, over her headscarf. Today, only remnants of Al-Khamisiyah remain, including parts of a winter mosque, a minaret, and a section of a former palace.