Najaf

Najaf is the capital of Najaf Governorate in central Iraq and one of Shia Islam's holiest cities, about 160 km south of Baghdad. The city grew around the burial place of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia Imam and fourth caliph, and remains a major centre of pilgrimage and religious scholarship.

The city's identity is shaped by the Imam Ali Shrine, whose golden dome and minarets rise over the old city, and by the vast Wadi-us-Salaam cemetery, one of the largest burial grounds in the world. Nearby Kufa, historically linked with Najaf, is home to the Great Mosque of Kufa and Sahla Mosque, important early Islamic sites.

Najaf's old city holds traditional markets, religious schools and historic lanes around the shrine, while newer districts extend toward Kufa and the surrounding desert. The University of Kufa and the city's long-standing hawza tradition give Najaf a strong educational and theological role across the region.

Religious tourism drives much of the local economy, with hotels, restaurants and transport services concentrated near the shrine and airport. Large pilgrim gatherings at events such as Arba'een bring significant visitor flows, and Al Najaf International Airport connects the city with regional and international destinations.

For both pilgrims and business travellers, Najaf offers a distinctive mix of sacred sites, early Islamic history, local markets and Iraqi hospitality, set within an arid landscape that shapes much of daily life.