Ur Tourist City

Ur Tourist City
مدينة أور السياحية
City
Official logo of Ur Tourist City
Logo
Ur Tourist City is located in Iraq
Ur Tourist City
Ur Tourist City
Location in Iraq
Coordinates: 30°59′15″N 46°05′30″E / 30.987401°N 46.091737°E / 30.987401; 46.091737
Country Iraq
GovernorateDhi Qar
Launched11 August 2021 (2021-08-11)
Area
 • Total
0.925 km2 (0.357 sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+3 (AST)

Ur Tourist City (Arabic: مدينة أور السياحية) is a modern heritage and tourism hub[1] established beside the archaeological site of the Sumerian city Ur in Dhi Qar, Iraq, home to the Ziggurat of Ur and – according to Bible and Q'uran – the birthplace of Abraham.[2] The project is intended to provide structured access for pilgrims and visitors and to evolve into a functioning modern city incorporating tourism, residential, educational, and cultural components, with buildings designed to reflect ancient Mesopotamian architecture.[3][4] It includes Iraq's first dedicated film and media production complex, featuring a large studio for historical Mesopotamian-era works.[1] Construction is being implemented in multi-phase stages under the supervision of the Iraqi Council of Ministers.[5]

History

The development borders the archaeological site of Ur, a major Sumerian centre dating to the fourth millennium BC.[6] Ur is the birthplace of Abraham according to the biblical narrative,[7] giving the site particular significance within the Abrahamic religions. An interfaith gathering led by Pope Francis in 2021 brought renewed international attention to the location.[8]

The project was initiated by the Iraqi government in 2021 as a planned heritage and tourism zone adjacent to the archaeological site. Government statements described it as a large-scale development combining heritage, tourism and service infrastructure. Its principal facilities include an open-air Sumerian theatre, the Ur World Museum, a drama production complex, Iraq's first opera house, a hotel, and associated visitor amenities.[5]

Development

The city is developed in phased stages under the Council of Ministers and the Dhi Qar Reconstruction Fund.

Phase one included completion of the basic design, development of service infrastructure, and construction of key cultural facilities such as the open-air Sumerian theatre, closed theatre, administrative centre and interfaith dialogue centre.[9][10]

Phase two introduced cultural facilities including the Ur World Museum, a 5,000 m² complex comprising two floors, 28 exhibition halls, a wax museum, meeting rooms and a cinema centre, intended to house 650 excavated artefacts and around 10,000 stored pieces. Construction reached about 90% completion by late 2025, with opening projected for early 2026.[11] It also incorporated civic services including a police station, civil defense unit, clinic and municipal office.[10] This phase also saw the launch of construction of the Inanna International Hotel, a five-star facility with 400 rooms.[12]

Preservation

In 2025, a forestry program planted 2,000 saplings in the tourist city to reduce dust storms, improve the environment, and protect the archaeological zone.[13] The General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage also approved a 19-billion-dinar (US$14.5 million) renovation plan to preserve the ancient site of Ur and support future tourism development.[14]

Visitors

The city has received visitors for cultural, academic and religious purposes. In February 2025, the site recorded 65 graduation events, 5 scientific conferences, 6 workshops, 52 school visits, 33 official delegations, 19 foreign delegations, and 27 organized tourism groups, alongside local family visits.[15] The site operates extended visiting hours during Ramadan.[15] Additionally, government officials have stated that memoranda of understanding with the Vatican are being prepared to organize Christian pilgrimage groups to Ur.[16][17]

Transportation

Ur Tourist City will be served by the nearby Nasiriyah International Airport, expected to open in early 2026.[18] The terminal is designed for 750,000 passengers per year, with expansion capacity to 2–3 million, and includes an on-site hotel.[18] The airport is planned to relieve pressure on southern airports and operate as a cargo and passenger hub linking Iraq with Middle Eastern routes.[18] Prior to its completion, most visitors have accessed the area through Basra International Airport, with studies citing that approximately 80% of tourists arrived via Basra.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Kawach, Nadim (2025-09-08). "Iraq revives old Sumerian town for tourism". AGBI. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  2. ^ "Iraq's answer to the pyramids". www.bbc.com. 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  3. ^ "إعمار ذي قار: إنجاز مرحلتين من مشروع أور السياحي » وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع)". وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع) (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  4. ^ Kawach, Nadim (2025-11-18). "US architects to revive ancient Sumerian court in Iraq". AGBI. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  5. ^ a b "الغزي: قرب إنجاز مشروع تطوير مدينة أور وتحويلها لوجهة سياحية عالمية » وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع)". وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع) (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  6. ^ "Ur | Mesopotamia, Map, Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2025-09-09. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  7. ^ "Where was Abraham from? | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2025-03-24. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  8. ^ Wooden, Cindy (2021-03-07). "In Abraham's birthplace, pope tells Iraqis that violence betrays faith". The Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  9. ^ kamal.hanna. "مشروع كنيسة أور... ذي قار والعراق موطن الحضارات". العربي الجديد (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  10. ^ a b "أمانة مجلس الوزراء: انطلاق المرحلة الثانية من مشروع مدينة أور السياحية » وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع)". وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع) (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  11. ^ "إنجاز 90 % من أعمال متحف أور العالمي » جريدة الصباح". جريدة الصباح (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  12. ^ "رئيس الوزراء يطلق الأعمال التنفيذية لمشروع فندق (إينانا) في مدينة أور السياحية » وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع)". وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع) (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  13. ^ "مشروع الكثبان الرملية يباشر تشجير مدينة أور السياحية بـ2000 شتلة". شبكة اخبار الناصرية (in Arabic). 2025-12-05. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  14. ^ "Iraq preparing $14.5 million renovation of ancient city of Ur". The New Arab. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  15. ^ a b "بيان رسمي: مدينة أور السياحية تستقبل آلاف الزوار خلال شباط وتواصل نشاطاتها في رمضان". شبكة اخبار الناصرية (in Arabic). 2025-03-01. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  16. ^ Al-Samarraie, Jawad (2025-10-08). "Iraq moves to launch Christian pilgrimage to Ur with new Vatican agreement". Iraqi News. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  17. ^ "مستشار حكومي: مذكرات تفاهم مع الفاتيكان لإرسال أفواج حج مسيحية إلى أور » وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع)". وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع) (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  18. ^ a b c "مطار الناصرية على أعتاب الافتتاح.. الأمانة العامة تتحدث عن طاقة تصل إلى 3 ملايين مسافر سنوياً » وكالة بغداد اليوم الاخبارية". وكالة بغداد اليوم الاخبارية. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  19. ^ "أور العراقية قبلة سياحية بعد عام على زيارة البابا". اندبندنت عربية (in Arabic). 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
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