More than (137,000) visitors have visited the holy places of Iraq through the Haji Omaran international border crossing

Announcement of the Higher Committee for Receiving the Visitors of the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein

On the occasion of the end of the process for the year 2025

In the name of the Higher Committee for Receiving the Visitors of the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein, on Sunday, corresponding to (August 17,2025), we announce the end of the process of the ceremony of receiving Iranian and foreign visitors for the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein to the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf for the year (2025).

Based on a decision by the Kurdistan Regional Government and following an administrative order from the Erbil Governorate on May 28, 2025, a high committee was formed. This committee, comprising members from all relevant ministries and stakeholders, initiated preparations for the 2025 Arbaeen ceremony for Imam Hussein to welcome Iranian and foreign visitors. The objective was to provide comprehensive public services, including security, health, transportation, accommodation, and rest facilities with all necessary amenities.
Four stations were organized and established for the accommodation, rest, and reception of visitors at the following locations: the Haji Omaran International Border Crossing, Kani Maran, the Erbil International Fair, and the Sherawa checkpoint.

The provision of necessities for all four stations was handled by the Barzani Charity Foundation. This included all logistical requirements, supplies, equipment, machinery, cabins, ambulances, medicine, meals, drinking water, tea, and food baskets (containing juice, water, cake, and biscuits). They also provided coolers, water sprinklers, shaded canopies, internet, and accommodation necessities for visitors such as blankets, mattresses, bedding, quilts, and tents. Other provisions included water tanks, portable toilets, refrigerators and evaporative coolers, carpets, chairs, tables, water cooling basins, water thermoses, containers, and ice, among other things.

The provision of bus fares for the transportation of visitors, for round trips from Haji Omaran to Erbil and back, was covered by the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region. Additionally, transportation costs were provided for some visitors from Erbil to Najaf and Karbala and their subsequent return to Erbil.
Teams and committees from the relevant departments were deployed according to their specialized tasks, with expert and efficient staff working day and night from the following institutions and agencies: (Barzani Charity Foundation - Department of Foreign Relations/Iran Affairs - Joint Crisis Coordination Centre - Haji Omaran International Border Crossing - Transportation - Security (Asayish) - Police - Passports - Customs Police - Checkpoint Security - Counter-Narcotics - Civil Activity Police - Customs - Traffic Police - Border Guard - Health - Civil Defense - Tourism - Municipality - Environmental Protection).

The formation of joint emergency committees (Security - Police - Traffic - Civil Defense - Health) within the jurisdictions of all district and sub-district administrations along the visitors' travel routes.
All hospitals and health centers along the visitors' travel routes were on high alert.
The establishment of several mobile transportation stations on the main route for visitors from the Haji Omaran border crossing to Karbala, which consisted of numerous empty buses and teams from local offices.
The readiness of an aviation team from the Erbil Traffic Directorate for necessary situations and their coordination with other teams from relevant departments.

The installation of (57) passport computers at the Haji Omaran border crossing for the swift processing of visitor passports.
The preparation of (3300) buses, coasters, and other vehicles for the transportation of visitors by the transportation authorities of Erbil Governorate and the Soran Independent Administration. This was supervised and guided in coordination with local transportation offices, covering the journey from the Haji Omaran International Border Crossing to Karbala in two stages and their subsequent return.
The deployment of numerous pieces of equipment, machinery, emergency vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, cranes, drinking water tankers, heavy water tankers, cleaning machines (sweepers and washers), medicine and food dispensers, minibuses, tractors, forklifts, cargo trucks, dump trucks, pickup trucks, and vehicles of the security agencies. These were stationed by the relevant departments and the Barzani Charity Foundation at all rest stations and along the routes to provide assistance, emergency response, and support to the visitors.

The process of visitor arrivals officially began on (July 30, 2025) and concluded on (August 17, 2025) as follows:
* More than (137,000) visitors entered through the Haji Omaran international border crossing to visit Najaf and Karbala. In addition to Iranian visitors, there were also visitors from other countries such as (Turkey - Azerbaijan - Georgia - Russia).
* The number of visitors who sought medical treatment at the health centers and teams in all four stations due to illness was more than (2,862) patients.
* Fortunately, there were no traffic accidents or civil defense incidents.
As a result of all the services provided this year by the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Barzani Charity Foundation, the high committee, and the teams and committees at the stations to the Iranian and foreign visitors, all visitors were welcomed in a stable and peaceful atmosphere with the utmost respect and with a Kurdish and humanitarian spirit by the government and people of Kurdistan. They all participated in the Arbaeen ceremony of Imam Hussein in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala with peace of mind and then returned safely to their own countries. We ask God Almighty to accept their prayers, supplications, and worship.

As a result of all the services provided this year by the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Barzani Charity Foundation, the high committee, and the teams and committees at the stations to the Iranian and foreign visitors, all visitors were welcomed in a stable and peaceful atmosphere with the utmost respect and with a Kurdish and humanitarian spirit by the government and people of Kurdistan. They all participated in the Arbaeen ceremony of Imam Hussein in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala with peace of mind and then returned safely to their own countries. We ask God Almighty to accept their prayers, supplications, and worship.

All members, employees, and service workers of the Barzani Charity Foundation, for the fourth year, have fulfilled their humanitarian and charitable duties in a very professional, humane, charitable, and Kurdistani manner. They were responsible for providing and offering all public and logistical services at the four stations for visitor accommodation and rest. They were on duty day and night, 24 hours a day, and were with us from the first day of the process until its conclusion, shouldering a large part of our governmental responsibilities. Therefore, we extend our endless and heartfelt thanks to the head of the foundation, the members of the administrative board, and their staff, one by one.

Therefore, with the successful conclusion of the process, it is necessary here to extend our endless thanks to the following esteemed individuals and parties who supported the Higher Committee in every way, enabling them to carry out their duties in the best manner to ensure the success of the reception process for the visitors of the Arba-een of Imam Hussein for the year (2025):
* The Presidency of the Kurdistan Region
* The Presidency of the Council of Ministers
* The Ministry of Interior
* The Barzani Charity Foundation
* Erbil Governorate
* The Soran Independent Administration
* Administrative units and all relevant departments, boards, and agencies
* The Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Erbil
* The Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in Baghdad
* The Erbil International Fair
* Local transportation offices and our brother bus drivers
* The Iraqi Red Crescent and the Iranian Red Crescent, Iranian charitable Mokebs (processions/tents), and other charitable organizations and companies.

And finally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the honorable and loyal people of the Kurdistan Region who, this year again, like in previous years, welcomed the visitors with a brotherly and humane spirit and with warmth. They embodied and showed the true face of the people of Kurdistan and recorded another history of humanity in this holy religious occasion.


Media of the Higher Committee for Receiving the Visitors of the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein
August 18, 2025