Ur:Dhi Qar A government delegation has reviewed the progress of projects at the archaeological and tourism sites in the city of Ur, Dhi Qar Governorate, discussing strategies for their development. The delegation projected that the Ur Tourism City project would be completed by early 2030 and announced plans to open the Ur International Museum early next year.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Ali al-Khazaei, representing the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, reported that the team overseeing the Ur archaeological and tourism projects—acting under the directive of the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Hamid al-Ghazzi—held a meeting with the city’s management and staff. The meeting aimed to assess progress made under Diwani Order No. 38, as well as to discuss current requirements and the future vision for the city’s development.
Al-Khazaei mentioned that a formal report detailing these requirements and proposals would be submitted within 48 hours to the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers for review and further action. He emphasized the site’s historical and tourism significance, highlighting its potential as a vital economic asset for Iraq and Dhi Qar Governorate.
Saleh al-Hasnawi, head of the engineering committee, stated that the meeting builds upon the successes already achieved at the Ur Tourism City site. Efforts are underway to integrate this area with the archaeological site of Ur, in line with directives from the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, and the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. Initial steps have been taken to develop designs and a preliminary vision for the development of the ancient city of Ur, aimed at boosting tourism in Nasiriyah.
Projects launched three years ago include an open-air Sumerian theater, an indoor theater in Ur, and the Ur International Museum—expected to open early next year—as well as a ‘Drama City’ currently under construction. Other investment projects include a tourist hotel, a traditional marketplace, a heritage market, and an amusement park.
The future vision includes establishing an international exhibition ground within the expansion area, a conference center, and a tourist complex—modeled after the ‘Al-Qasab’ (Reed City) complex in the holy city of Karbala—along with a College of Fine Arts, one of the world’s largest dancing fountains, and a family-oriented entertainment complex. Work on these projects is expected to begin in the coming days, with the Ur tourist complex slated to be ready by early 2030.
Adnan Aziz, Director of Relations for the Ur tourist complex, stated that the Ur tourist complex is one of the most prominent tourist landmarks in Dhi Qar Governorate. Last year, it welcomed over a million visitors from both within Iraq and abroad, reflecting the high level of tourist interest in the site. The complex features a variety of landmarks and tourist facilities, most notably the open-air Sumerian theater—which has a capacity of 2,000 spectators—’Drama City,’ an indoor theater, a church, and gardens, in addition to the Ur International Museum, which stands as one of the site’s most significant projects.