'We lost 105 hotels'

Najaf tourism struggles amid hotel closures, drop in Iranian visitors

NAJAF — Najaf’s tourism sector is facing mounting pressure as hotel closures rise and visitor spending declines, with local industry leaders blaming the Israel–Iran conflict, closed airports, and a sharp fall in Iranian arrivals for the downturn.

“The number of hotels in Najaf used to be 350, but unfortunately only 245 remain,” said Saeb Abu Ghanim, head of the Hotel Association in Najaf. “We lost 105 hotels — some were demolished, others turned into parking lots, malls, or hospitals. This clearly reflects the deterioration of the tourism sector.”

Despite the arrival of more than 21 million pilgrims to Karbala and Najaf in 2024 for Arbaeen — one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings — businesses say the broader downturn continues. The pilgrimage marks the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D.

Abu Ghanim said Iranian pilgrims once made up 80% of visitors to the city. “That number is now almost zero, even though we are fully prepared to welcome guests of Amir al-Mu’minin,” he said, using a title for Imam Ali, whose shrine is in Najaf.

He added that tourists from Gulf countries have not filled the gap, and domestic travel has declined due to extreme heat and poor infrastructure. “We hope conditions improve and Iranian airports reopen,” he said. “The Iranian visitor is the foundation of Najaf’s religious tourism.”

According to Abu Ghanim, hotel occupancy briefly rises by 20% to 25% during Ashura and public holidays, but those periods are not enough to sustain the industry.

“The closure of 105 hotels and their conversion to parking garages, malls, or hospitals shows that tourism is not in a normal state,” he said.

Hotel manager Ali Hassan told 964media that business has struggled since the start of the Israel–Iran war. “We rely entirely on tourism, and when visits slow, bills start piling up — electricity, water, municipal fees — and there’s no government support,” he said. “Some visitors can only pay $6 per night, which is not enough to cover costs, taxes, or operations.”

“Now many can’t even pay $4 or $5 a night,” he added. “Their ability to spend is very limited. This makes the situation worse by the day.”

Abu Ghanim noted that service quality varies across hotels, from high-end establishments to more modest accommodations. “We have hotels that rival those in the Gulf in terms of quality,” he said. “All hotels, regardless of level, offer the best they can with what they have.”