Nasiriyah Airport construction nears completion, opening set for end of 2025

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Transport announced Sunday that construction on Nasiriyah Airport has entered its final phase, with the official opening scheduled for the end of this year.

Ministry spokesperson Maytham Al-Safi told the Iraqi News Agency that “the completion rate of Nasiriyah Airport has exceeded 85 percent, while the completion rate of the airport buildings has reached more than 90 percent and is nearing completion.”

He said work is moving forward quickly, noting that Transport Minister Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadi “has confirmed adherence to the scheduled timelines, with the arrival of equipment and navigational devices,” and emphasized that “the airport will open by the end of this year.”

Al-Safi added that “the executing company continues its work, and the executive committees remain present at Nasiriyah Airport to complete the project within the set timeframe.”

He explained that aircraft operations will depend on the airport’s operational plan and the companies that will use it as a base, “as this falls within the airport’s operating strategy.”

Al-Safi said Nasiriyah Airport will mark “a turning point in the economic future of Dhi Qar Governorate,” highlighting its strategic location and international-standard design. He added that the facility “will help attract investment to the governorate, which will become a fertile environment for investors, as well as being the only gateway connecting the governorate to the world.”

Transport Minister Razzaq al-Saadaoui said on Sept. 18 that Nasiriyah International Airport would begin operations before the end of 2025, with construction nearly complete. He said total progress stands at about 85%, with structural work 95% finished.

The $280 million project is designed to serve up to 750,000 passengers annually and improve air connectivity for Dhi Qar and neighboring governorates. The minister said the facility will “strengthen Iraq’s air transport infrastructure.”

The announcement follows the reopening of Mosul International Airport earlier this year.