
Construction of the Karbala International Airport (KIA) is currently underway, with the airport expected to open in 2025. Karbala Northeast (Imam Hussein) Airport, as it will be called, is designed to handle a large influx of visitors to Karbala, one of the most popular religious sites in the world. The airport is strategically located about 60km southwest of Baghdad and is expected to become a major international hub, enhancing Iraq's transportation infrastructure and stimulating economic growth in the region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Expected opening date | 2025 |
| Number of construction phases | 4 |
| Number of passengers (annual capacity) | 20 million |
| Number of passengers in phase 1 (annual capacity) | 2-3 million |
| Number of passengers in phase 2 (annual capacity) | 6 million |
| Number of passengers in phase 3 (annual capacity) | 12 million |
| Construction start date | 2017 |
| Construction cost | $2 billion |
| Construction company | Couberjais (UK), Er-Ridha (Iraq) |
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What You'll Learn
- Karbala International Airport is expected to open in 2025
- The airport will be able to handle 20 million passengers per year
- The project began in 2009 when the Iraqi Ministry of Transport commissioned a design
- The airport is designed to accommodate religious pilgrims
- The airport is part of Iraq's post-war rebuilding projects

Karbala International Airport is expected to open in 2025
The Iraqi government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Imam Hussein Holy Shrine Authority in December 2014 to construct the new airport in Karbala. The authority will fund the proposed "Imam Hussein Airport," which is expected to be one of the busiest airports in the Middle East.
The initial steps of the project began in 2009 when the Iraqi Ministry of Transport commissioned the French firm ADPI to design the airport. The design was completed in the first third of 2014, and implementation work on-site began in 2017. The first phase of the project includes the development of a state-of-the-art passenger terminal building, with a capacity of three million passengers per year. The terminal will house ticketing, baggage handling, passenger lounges, retail and dining areas, and security screening.
Phase one of the airport is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 and will be followed by three additional phases to expand the airport's capacity. The second phase will double the capacity to six million passengers, while phases three and four will expand it to 12 million and 20 million, respectively. As of July 2024, the construction of Karbala Northeast (Imam Hussein) Airport was reportedly 78% complete, with the primary runway and taxiways approaching full completion.
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The airport will be able to handle 20 million passengers per year
The Karbala International Airport (KIA) is a major infrastructure project in Iraq, designed to accommodate the millions of visitors to Karbala, one of the most visited religious sites in the world. The airport is expected to open in 2025, with a capacity to handle 20 million passengers per year.
The airport will be located on a 45 sq. km piece of land in Karbala, about 60km southwest of Baghdad. The project is being managed by Iraq's Manhal Al-Habboobi Consultancy Company and is part of the country's post-war rebuilding efforts. The airport is also expected to boost the region's economy by enhancing its transportation infrastructure and supporting religious tourism.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport, along with Teebat Karbala, has launched this strategic project to construct a new airport with a state-of-the-art passenger terminal building. The terminal will be designed to handle an annual capacity of three million passengers in its initial phase, with plans to expand to six, twelve, and eventually 20 million passengers in subsequent phases. The first phase will include ticketing, baggage handling, passenger lounges, retail and dining areas, and security screening facilities.
The airport's construction is currently underway, with the primary runway and taxiways approaching full completion. The airport will be developed in four phases at an estimated total cost of USD2 billion. The first phase, costing between USD250 million and USD500 million, will see the construction of the runway, terminal, and control tower, with a capacity for two to three million passengers per year. The subsequent phases will focus on expanding the terminal building to increase the airport's overall capacity.
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The project began in 2009 when the Iraqi Ministry of Transport commissioned a design
The Karbala International Airport project began in 2009 when the Iraqi Ministry of Transport commissioned a design from French firm ADPI, one of the world's leading airport design companies. The design was completed in the first third of 2014, and on-site implementation work began in 2017. The airport is poised to become a major international hub, enhancing Iraq's transportation infrastructure, supporting religious tourism, and stimulating significant economic growth for the region.
The airport is designed to handle up to 20 million passengers per year and will be located within 40km of the provinces of Karbala, Najaf, and Hilla. The project is being managed by Iraq's Manhal Al-Habboobi Consultancy Company and is part of the country's plans to rebuild its infrastructure and services. It is hoped that the first phase of the project will be completed and formally inaugurated by the end of 2023.
The first phase of the project includes the construction of a terminal, an airfield, and aviation-related development. The terminal building will be state-of-the-art, housing ticketing, baggage handling, passenger lounges, retail and dining areas, and security screening. The facility will be designed to handle an annual capacity of three million passengers, which is expected to increase to six million in phase 2, 12 million in phase 3, and 20 million in phase 4.
As of July 2024, the construction of Karbala Northeast (Imam Hussein) Airport was reportedly 78% complete, with the primary runway and taxiways approaching full completion. The airport is expected to open in early 2025. The project is being developed in four phases at an estimated total cost of USD2 billion. The first phase, which includes the construction of the runway, terminal, and control tower, is expected to cost between USD250 million and USD500 million.
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The airport is designed to accommodate religious pilgrims
Karbala International Airport (KIA) is expected to open in 2025, with the primary runway and taxiways approaching full completion. The airport is designed to accommodate religious pilgrims, as Karbala is one of the most visited religious sites in the world. The Iraqi Ministry of Transport, along with Teebat Karbala, has launched this strategic project to construct a new airport situated on the outskirts of Karbala, about 60km southwest of Baghdad. The airport is expected to have a handling capacity of up to 20 million passengers per year, with phase one of the project accommodating three million passengers.
The airport will be developed in four phases at an estimated total cost of USD2 billion. The first phase, which includes the construction of the terminal, airfield, and aviation-related development, is expected to cost USD250-500 million. The airport's design was completed by French firm ADPI in early 2014, and the foundation stone was laid in January 2017. The first phase is expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months, with the entire project taking around four years.
The airport will have a state-of-the-art passenger terminal building, housing ticketing, baggage handling, passenger lounges, retail and dining areas, and security screening. The terminal building has been redesigned to reduce the space from 46,000 square meters to 30,000 square meters without compromising operational efficiency. The complex will also include an 18-story tower with a total height of 64 meters and attached buildings covering an area of approximately 2,600 square meters.
The Iraqi Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Imam Hussein Holy Shrine Authority to construct the airport, which will be funded by the authority. The airport is not meant to compete with other airports but to serve pilgrims going to the Mosques of Imam Husayn and Abbas. It is part of Iraq's plans to rebuild its infrastructure and enhance religious tourism, which will stimulate significant economic growth for the region.
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The airport is part of Iraq's post-war rebuilding projects
The Karbala International Airport (KIA) is a significant infrastructure project in Iraq, strategically located near the holy city of Karbala. Designed to accommodate millions of visitors and passengers annually, the airport is expected to boost tourism and stimulate economic growth in the region.
The initial steps of the project began in 2009 when the Iraqi Ministry of Transport commissioned the French firm ADPI to design the airport. The design was completed by 2014, and on-site implementation work began in 2017. The first phase of the project, which includes the construction of the terminal, airfield, and aviation-related development, is expected to be completed and inaugurated by the end of 2023.
The airport is designed to handle a large capacity of passengers, with estimates ranging from 3 million to 20 million passengers annually. The project is being developed in multiple phases, with each phase expanding the airport's capacity. The first phase is expected to cost between USD 250 million and USD 500 million, with the total project cost estimated at USD 2 billion.
The Karbala International Airport is poised to become a major international hub, enhancing Iraq's transportation infrastructure and supporting religious tourism. The airport will cater to the increasing number of pilgrims visiting Karbala, one of the most visited religious sites in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Phase one of the Karbala civilian airport project is expected to be completed and inaugurated at the end of 2023. The airport is designed to handle up to 20 million passengers per year.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport, along with Teebat Karbala, have launched the project. The Paris-based ADP group has designed the airport with a capacity of three million passengers. The project is managed by Iraq's Manhal Al-Habboobi Consultancy Company.
The airport is strategically located near the city of Karbala, one of the most visited religious sites in the world. It is designed to accommodate the large influx of visitors travelling to the Mosques of Imam Husayn and Abbas.









































