ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s tourism authority said on Saturday that the ancient city of Ur in southern Dhi Qar province is poised for a “tourism revolution” as authorities advance infrastructure and development projects aimed at boosting religious and archaeological tourism.

Nasser Ghanem, head of the Tourism Authority at Iraq’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities, told the state media that work on Ur’s tourism projects has reached “advanced stages,” alongside progress on Nasiriyah International Airport.

“Ur in Dhi Qar province is approaching a tourism revolution if conditions remain stable, especially in the fields of archaeological and religious tourism,” Ghanem said.

He added that Iraq witnessed a “major revival” in the tourism sector over the past three years, particularly in 2025, when Baghdad was named the Arab Tourism Capital and hosted numerous conferences and tourism investments.

“Many foreign delegations visited Iraq in 2025 for tourism and to visit archaeological sites in Babylon, Mosul, and Nasiriyah,” he said.

Ghanem said religious tourism in Iraq extends beyond Shiite holy shrines and also includes sites connected to Sufi figures, Sunni Islamic schools, and Christian heritage.

“Christian tourism is expected to become one of the largest forms of tourism, especially in the city of Ur,” he said.

Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, is one of Iraq’s most significant archaeological and religious sites and has increasingly featured in government plans to expand international tourism.

Ghanem also pointed to ongoing investments in hotels and tourism infrastructure, as well as the restoration of Iraq’s southern marshlands.

“The marshes have come back to life and will become one of Iraq’s tourist landmarks,” he said.

In February, Iraqi authorities announced plans to launch a “drama city” within Ur Tourist City in Dhi Qar province as part of broader efforts to transform the ancient Sumerian site into a global cultural and tourism destination.

Officials said the project would include theaters, Iraq’s first opera house, television and film studios, and themed historical districts recreating Sumerian, Babylonian, and early modern Iraqi life.

Ur was visited by Pope Francis in 2021 and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The southern province of Dhi Qar is also home to several other major Sumerian archaeological sites, including Eridu, Girsu, and Lagash.

The renewed focus on Ur comes as Iraqi authorities continue broader efforts to revive tourism across the country.

Baghdad was named the Arab Tourism Capital for 2025 in late 2024, prompting Iraqi authorities to intensify efforts to revive tourism in the capital through infrastructure and development projects.

In May 2026, Baghdad officials announced a seven-point plan to rehabilitate roads, green spaces, historical districts, and tourist facilities, including restoration work in central Baghdad around al-Mutanabbi Street, the Saray area, and Rashid Street.

Iraqi authorities have said the city is increasingly attracting domestic and foreign tourists as the country seeks to rebuild a tourism sector damaged by decades of war, instability, and the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS).