ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The largest laser fountain in Iraq is set to be completed in the coming months in the city of Zakho. The project, estimated to cost around 13 billion Iraqi dinars (around $9.9 million), will cover an area of 12,000 square meters and is a part of the Kurdistan Region’s larger efforts to advance tourism.

Hedya Mohammed, the project’s supervisor, told The New Region that so far, “nearly 20 percent of the work has been completed, and it will be finished within the next seven months.”

An international restaurant, expansive green spaces, and a 30-meter-deep underground parking garage with capacity for 350 cars are also set to be built alongside the fountain.

The development marks the completion of the second phase of the Zakho Corniche Project, launched as part of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) tourism development program. The first phase of the project cost more than 11 billion dinars which included the construction of a 73-meter-long dam.

Zakho Tourism Director Chiya Amin noted that “the third phase of the project will begin in the future, and the construction of this fountain will have a significant impact on attracting tourists and advancing the tourism sector.”

The corniche extends along both banks of the Khabur River and is considered one of the KRG’s ninth cabinet's important and strategic projects.

The New Region has learned that work on the third phase is expected to begin soon.

The KRG has made increasing efforts in recent years to diversify its revenue sources and make the Region an appealing destination for international businesses.