Preparations underway at Haji Omaran crossing to receive Arbaeen pilgrims from Iran

ERBIL — Authorities in Erbil’s northeastern Soran district are preparing to receive thousands of Iranian pilgrims traveling through the Haji Omaran border crossing for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, officials said Tuesday.

The crossing, a vital gateway for trade and religious travel between Iran and the Kurdistan Region, will begin welcoming pilgrims starting July 28, according to Hazhar Hakim, head of media and public relations for the Soran autonomous administration.

“Preparations will be fully completed by next Saturday,” Hakim told 964media. “Necessary arrangements have been made at the crossing to facilitate their entry.”

Arbaeen marks the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D. Each year, millions of Shia Muslims—including large numbers from Iran—travel to Iraq to visit Hussein’s shrine in Karbala.

To accommodate the influx, authorities have also equipped the Gali Ali Beg area with a rest station featuring tents, seating, and cooling systems, while buses will transport pilgrims from the border to Erbil before they continue to southern Iraq.

Over the past five years, Iranian pilgrims have increasingly used Kurdistan Region border crossings for their journey to Karbala. In 2023, more than 120,000 entered through Haji Omaran, and over 100,000 passed through in 2024.