Iraq

Field meanings are available in the data dictionary.

brand

ArabiaTour.com

scope_order

10

country

Iraq

country_iso2

IQ

country_iso3

IRQ

scope_note

The 10 countries specified for ArabiaTour.com.

tourism_visits

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

tourism_visits_year

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

tourism_metric

Comparable national international-tourist arrivals not verified

tourism_value_qualifier

not_available

tourism_comparability_note

No defensible comparable national 2024/2025 annual total was verified. Kurdistan domestic-plus-international visits, pilgrimage counts, and small archaeology-tour groups are not substitutes. Blank does not mean zero.

gdp_nominal_usd_billion

254.37

gdp_year

2025

gdp_per_capita_current_usd

5409.7

gdp_per_capita_year

2025

summary_five_paragraphs

Iraq has exceptional Mesopotamian, religious, and urban cultural significance. A defensible comparable national annual international-tourist total for 2024 or 2025 was not verified, so the visitor field is intentionally blank. Regional visits, domestic tourism, and pilgrimage counts have not been used as substitutes for national international arrivals. The World Bank country page displayed nominal GDP of USD 254.37 billion for 2025.

The five cultural selections are Baghdad, Erbil, Najaf, Karbala, and Babylon with Hillah. Baghdad brings museum and historic-city interests, Erbil adds its citadel and bazaar, and Najaf and Karbala are major religious destinations with specific access and conduct requirements. Babylon is an archaeological site near Hillah, not the location of the Baghdad hotel called Babylon Rotana. All five selected areas fall under essential-travel warnings in the cited FCDO guidance, with additional all-travel exclusions in specified districts and surrounding regions.

Entry procedures must distinguish federal Iraq from the Kurdistan Region and must be checked for the actual nationality. The cited British-passport guidance requires an advance federal eVisa, quotes USD 160, and describes a 60-day visa validity period; that validity is not presented as a universal 60-day stay allowance. Kurdistan Region permission does not authorize entry elsewhere in federal Iraq. Applicants should use the relevant official portal, allow contingency beyond minimum application timing, and confirm passport, onward-travel, local-contact, and any operator-document requirements.

No routine leisure budget is supplied because an ordinary hotel-and-meals figure could omit material transport, insurance, security, permission, and contingency requirements. Essential travelers need a tailored quotation and an independently reviewed plan rather than a low-cost comparison with neighboring countries. The country-level hotel reference list includes Babylon Rotana, Erbil Rotana, The Baron in Karbala, Grand Millennium Sulaimani, and Erbil International Hotel; the Sulaymaniyah option is outside the five destination rows. These listings confirm property identity, not current availability, safety, or the suitability of any proposed transfer.

Baghdad, Erbil, and Najaf are the relevant established airport gateways for the selected places, but flight operation and admissible onward routes require current confirmation. Cooler months can reduce heat exposure, yet season is secondary to the advisory, insurance acceptance, access permissions, and contingency arrangements. FCDO distinguishes essential-travel areas from all-travel exclusions such as Sadr City and Jurf al-Sakhar, so an itinerary requires route-level assessment. Cultural significance, a hotel brand, a visa approval, and a flight listing should never be interpreted as evidence that a leisure journey is currently advisable.

capital

Baghdad

official_language

Arabic; Kurdish

currency_code

IQD

currency_name

Iraqi dinar

gdp_basis

Nominal GDP, current US dollars; World Bank latest displayed annual value

gdp_precision_note

Rounded to the precision displayed on the World Bank country page.

gdp_source_ids

IQ_GDP

gdp_source_urls

https://data.worldbank.org/country/iraq ↗

tourism_source_ids

IQ_TOUR

tourism_source_urls

https://tourism.gov.iq/ ↗

visa_route

Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region require separate route checks. FCDO’s British-passport guidance states advance federal eVisa, with no federal visa on arrival.

how_to_get_visa

For federal Iraq, check and apply through the official eVisa service before travel; British-passport guidance says at least 24 hours in advance, with extra contingency advisable. For the Kurdistan Region, use its official visit portal or a confirmed eligible arrival route.

official_visa_application_url

https://eservice.evisa.iq ↗
https://visit.gov.krd ↗

visa_stay_and_validity

British-passport federal guidance lists an eVisa valid for 60 days. Validity is not asserted here as a 60-day authorized stay. Kurdistan Region permission does not authorize travel elsewhere in federal Iraq.

visa_fee_note

FCDO’s full British-citizen passport guidance quotes USD 160 for the federal eVisa. This is not asserted as the fee for every nationality or for a Kurdistan Region visa.

passport_and_documents

For the cited British route: at least six months of passport validity, a blank page, and return/onward travel. Confirm nationality-specific requirements and operator documentation.

visa_key_restrictions

Do not enter federal Iraq using only Kurdistan Region permission. Travel warnings, route checks, and insurance limitations remain relevant even with an approved visa.

visa_source_ids

IQ_VIS

visa_source_urls

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq/entry-requirements ↗

best_time_to_visit_editorial

October to April is a general heat-avoidance preference; security and permission take precedence over season.

suggested_trip_length_editorial

Not proposed under the current warnings; essential travel needs a tailored, professionally reviewed plan.

tourism_themes

Mesopotamian heritage | Religious sites | Baghdad culture | Kurdistan Region heritage

getting_around

Use vetted local arrangements and confirm airports, checkpoints, driver permissions, and regional entry rules; do not assume independent road access.

culture_and_access_note

Confirm shrine access, photography and checkpoint rules, permits, local contacts, and contingency arrangements.

cost_drivers_and_practical_note

No routine leisure budget is supplied. Obtain an essential-travel quotation explicitly covering transport, security arrangements where needed, insurance, permits, and contingencies.

travel_advisory_summary

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the five selected areas, with all-travel warnings for excluded districts and other provinces; Baghdad’s Sadr City and Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhar are specific exclusions.

airport_operating_note

BGW, EBL, and NJF are relevant established gateways, but airline operation and admissible onward routes must be confirmed. Kurdistan Region visas are not federal-Iraq permission.

travel_advisory_authority

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

advisory_source_ids

IQ_ADV

advisory_source_urls

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq ↗

destination_source_ids

IQ_TOURIQ_UNESCO

destination_source_urls

https://tourism.gov.iq/ ↗
https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/iq ↗

cost_estimate_method

Not estimated: obtain a tailored essential-travel quotation.

cost_basis

USD per person per day, two adults sharing a double room; modest accommodation, meals, local ground transport, and routine sightseeing within the selected tier.

cost_exclusions

International flights | visas | insurance | intercity flights and long transfers | premium guided tours | diving/balloon flights | private security | shopping | major-event premiums

cost_special_note

Ordinary hotel prices alone would omit material essential-travel requirements.

budget_usd_pp_day_low

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

budget_usd_pp_day_high

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

midrange_usd_pp_day_low

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

midrange_usd_pp_day_high

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

luxury_usd_pp_day_low

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

luxury_usd_pp_day_high

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

midrange_7_day_usd_pp_low

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

midrange_7_day_usd_pp_high

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

cost_context_source_ids

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

cost_context_source_urls

Not verified, not supplied or not applicable — not zero.

summary_paragraph_1

Iraq has exceptional Mesopotamian, religious, and urban cultural significance. A defensible comparable national annual international-tourist total for 2024 or 2025 was not verified, so the visitor field is intentionally blank. Regional visits, domestic tourism, and pilgrimage counts have not been used as substitutes for national international arrivals. The World Bank country page displayed nominal GDP of USD 254.37 billion for 2025.

summary_paragraph_1_source_ids

IQ_TOURIQ_GDP

summary_paragraph_2

The five cultural selections are Baghdad, Erbil, Najaf, Karbala, and Babylon with Hillah. Baghdad brings museum and historic-city interests, Erbil adds its citadel and bazaar, and Najaf and Karbala are major religious destinations with specific access and conduct requirements. Babylon is an archaeological site near Hillah, not the location of the Baghdad hotel called Babylon Rotana. All five selected areas fall under essential-travel warnings in the cited FCDO guidance, with additional all-travel exclusions in specified districts and surrounding regions.

summary_paragraph_2_source_ids

IQ_TOURIQ_UNESCO

summary_paragraph_3

Entry procedures must distinguish federal Iraq from the Kurdistan Region and must be checked for the actual nationality. The cited British-passport guidance requires an advance federal eVisa, quotes USD 160, and describes a 60-day visa validity period; that validity is not presented as a universal 60-day stay allowance. Kurdistan Region permission does not authorize entry elsewhere in federal Iraq. Applicants should use the relevant official portal, allow contingency beyond minimum application timing, and confirm passport, onward-travel, local-contact, and any operator-document requirements.

summary_paragraph_3_source_ids

IQ_VIS

summary_paragraph_4

No routine leisure budget is supplied because an ordinary hotel-and-meals figure could omit material transport, insurance, security, permission, and contingency requirements. Essential travelers need a tailored quotation and an independently reviewed plan rather than a low-cost comparison with neighboring countries. The country-level hotel reference list includes Babylon Rotana, Erbil Rotana, The Baron in Karbala, Grand Millennium Sulaimani, and Erbil International Hotel; the Sulaymaniyah option is outside the five destination rows. These listings confirm property identity, not current availability, safety, or the suitability of any proposed transfer.

summary_paragraph_4_source_ids

IQ_H1IQ_H2IQ_H3IQ_H4IQ_H5IQ_AIR

summary_paragraph_5

Baghdad, Erbil, and Najaf are the relevant established airport gateways for the selected places, but flight operation and admissible onward routes require current confirmation. Cooler months can reduce heat exposure, yet season is secondary to the advisory, insurance acceptance, access permissions, and contingency arrangements. FCDO distinguishes essential-travel areas from all-travel exclusions such as Sadr City and Jurf al-Sakhar, so an itinerary requires route-level assessment. Cultural significance, a hotel brand, a visa approval, and a flight listing should never be interpreted as evidence that a leisure journey is currently advisable.

summary_paragraph_5_source_ids

IQ_ADVIQ_TOURIQ_UNESCO

destination_1_name

Baghdad

destination_1_top_sites

Iraqi Museum, if open | Al-Mutanabbi Street | Abbasid Palace | Al-Mustansiriya

destination_1_airports

Baghdad International Airport (BGW)

destination_1_access_note

Arrange locally vetted airport transport and current route checks; museum admission and site operation must be reconfirmed.

destination_1_warning

FCDO: all but essential travel to Baghdad except Sadr City, which is under an all-travel warning.

destination_2_name

Erbil

destination_2_top_sites

Erbil Citadel | Qaysari Bazaar | Sami Abdulrahman Park

destination_2_airports

Erbil International Airport (EBL)

destination_2_access_note

Check airport operation and Kurdistan Region visa acceptance. Regional permission does not automatically authorize federal-Iraq travel.

destination_2_warning

FCDO: all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region. Check site access and regional security conditions.

destination_3_name

Najaf

destination_3_top_sites

Imam Ali Shrine | Kufa Mosque | Wadi al-Salam, subject to religious access rules

destination_3_airports

Al Najaf International Airport (NJF)

destination_3_access_note

Arrange an authorized local transfer and pilgrimage access; confirm terminal, flight, and road operation.

destination_3_warning

FCDO: all but essential travel. Religious admission and respectful conduct requirements apply; no local hotel was independently shortlisted.

destination_4_name

Karbala

destination_4_top_sites

Imam Husayn Shrine | Al-Abbas Shrine | Pilgrimage precincts

destination_4_airports

Al Najaf International Airport (NJF); alternatives: Baghdad International Airport (BGW)

destination_4_access_note

NJF and BGW are established alternative gateways followed by a road transfer. Confirm current access and crowd-control arrangements.

destination_4_warning

FCDO: all but essential travel. Major pilgrimage periods can substantially restrict roads and access.

destination_5_name

Babylon and Hillah

destination_5_top_sites

Babylon archaeological site | Site interpretation areas | Hillah regional base

destination_5_airports

Baghdad International Airport (BGW); alternatives: Al Najaf International Airport (NJF)

destination_5_access_note

Arrange a vetted overland excursion with confirmed site access. Babylon Rotana is in Baghdad, not at the archaeological site.

destination_5_warning

FCDO: all but essential travel to Babil except Jurf al-Sakhar, which is under an all-travel warning. Routes require individual review.

hotel_1_name_and_area

Babylon Rotana — Baghdad

hotel_1_official_url

https://www.rotana.com/rotanahotelandresorts/iraq/baghdad/babylonrotana ↗

hotel_1_status_note

Essential-travel context only. Obtain current operation, transfer, and security advice;

hotel_2_name_and_area

Erbil Rotana — Erbil

hotel_2_official_url

https://www.rotana.com/rotanahotelandresorts/iraq/erbil/erbilrotana ↗

hotel_2_status_note

Essential-travel context only; confirm airport operation and region-specific visa acceptance.

hotel_3_name_and_area

The Baron — Karbala

hotel_3_official_url

https://www.thebaronhotels.com/about-us/ ↗

hotel_3_status_note

Essential-travel context only. Major pilgrimages can change road access, crowding, and availability.

hotel_4_name_and_area

Grand Millennium Hotel Sulaimani — Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region

hotel_4_official_url

https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/sulaimani/grand-millennium-hotel-sulaimani ↗

hotel_4_status_note

Outside the five selected destinations. Essential-travel context only; check regional visa, airport, and security requirements.

hotel_5_name_and_area

Erbil International Hotel — Erbil

hotel_5_official_url

https://www.erbilinthotel.com/ ↗

hotel_5_status_note

Essential-travel context only. Website contains template artifacts; confirm all operational details directly.

all_country_source_ids

IQ_GDPIQ_AIRIQ_ADVIQ_TOURIQ_VISIQ_UNESCOIQ_H1IQ_H2IQ_H3IQ_H4IQ_H5

all_country_source_urls

https://data.worldbank.org/country/iraq ↗
https://ourairports.com/countries/IQ/airports.html ↗
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq ↗
https://tourism.gov.iq/ ↗
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq/entry-requirements ↗
https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/iq ↗
https://www.rotana.com/rotanahotelandresorts/iraq/baghdad/babylonrotana ↗
https://www.rotana.com/rotanahotelandresorts/iraq/erbil/erbilrotana ↗
https://www.thebaronhotels.com/about-us/ ↗
https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/sulaimani/grand-millennium-hotel-sulaimani ↗
https://www.erbilinthotel.com/ ↗