
Kurdistan's Gali Ali Beg: Perfect summer getaway for Iraqi families
Shafaq News/ As temperatures climb across Iraq, Gali Ali Beg resort in the Kurdistan Region has emerged once again as a summer sanctuary. Visitors from Baghdad, Nineveh, Babil, and beyond are pouring into the site, drawn by a tranquil atmosphere that offers a refreshing counterpoint to the city heat.
Located in the northeastern part of Erbil province, Gali Ali Beg has long held a special place among Iraq's top tourist destinations. The resort's signature features—its cascading waterfalls running between rocky cliffs, its lush green surroundings, and its temperate summer climate—make it a magnet for families and solo travelers alike, especially during holidays.
Alaa, who traveled from Baghdad during Eid al-Adha, shared with Shafaq News that his visit offered more than just a change of scenery. 'My trip to Gali Ali Beg felt like a real getaway. The nature here is magical, the weather is much cooler compared to Baghdad, everything is well-organized, and the tourist facilities are readily available. It all made the journey feel easy and relaxing.'
That sentiment resonates with others who made the holiday journey. Among them is Samira, a mother from Nineveh, who described the resort as a perfect place to bring children during the holiday break.
'The resort is perfectly set up for families,' she expressed to Shafaq News. 'There are plenty of rest areas, restaurants, and small markets. The atmosphere is calm and enjoyable, especially for spending time with children during the Eid holiday.'
The sound of rushing water and the beauty of the landscape, she added, had a calming effect on everyone in her group. 'We were impressed by how clean the place is—there's clear attention to maintaining the facilities, which we truly appreciate.'
As more visitors arrive, the resort's management has been working to keep up with growing demand. Improvements in infrastructure and services haven't gone unnoticed.
Mahmoud, a public employee from Babil, observed that the increased number of tourists had been matched by visible enhancements to the site.
'The site management has been working to upgrade the facilities and improve the services offered to guests,' he told our agency. 'That's become even more important with the growing number of tourists during Eid and other holidays. The strong turnout we're seeing reflects how far these efforts have come in strengthening tourism in the Kurdistan Region.'
The numbers reflect the appeal. The Kurdistan Region's Tourism Board is projecting more than 300,000 tourist arrivals during the Eid al-Adha holiday—up from 220,000 during the same period last year.
The Directorate of Tourism in Halabja announced that over 85,000 tourists and visitors arrived in the province during the first three days of the Eid alone, reinforcing the growing draw of the Region 's natural destinations.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
30 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Erbil draws +89k tourists during Eid holiday
Shafaq News/ On Monday, authorities in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Region, hailed the Eid al-Adha holiday a success, reporting smooth security and service operations. According to a statement issued by the Erbil governorate, a total of 89,301 tourists visited the city during the al-Adha holiday. Public parks and green spaces in Erbil received around 108,000 visitors, including 30,000 to Sami Abdulrahman Park. The influx aligns with previous projections for the season's tourism boom, as Erbil continues to position itself as a key attraction in the region. The statement highlighted the efforts of the Erbil Central District Administration, which detained 15 butchers for violating health regulations, closed 27 food establishments, and impounded four vehicles for transporting livestock unlawfully. Regarding municipal services, the statement said four butcher shops were closed for violations, 22 livestock and two transport vehicles were seized, and two cases of unregulated slaughtering were prevented. A total of 1,124 tons of slaughter waste was removed during the holiday. In the city's central livestock market, 1,461 sacrifices were conducted during the Eid period—270 large livestock and 1,191 small livestock. Erbil Security Directorate reported that the entire security plan was executed without incident, with forces remaining on high alert throughout the holiday (from June 7 to 10). The Civil Defense Directorate also reported successful execution of its plan, containing 16 fire incidents with no human casualties, and damages limited to property. Earlier, local authorities had anticipated a sharp rise in visitor numbers, expecting more than 300,000 tourists to arrive across the Region, thanks to improved infrastructure and favorable weather conditions compared to Iraq's southern provinces.


Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan's Gali Ali Beg: Perfect summer getaway for Iraqi families
Shafaq News/ As temperatures climb across Iraq, Gali Ali Beg resort in the Kurdistan Region has emerged once again as a summer sanctuary. Visitors from Baghdad, Nineveh, Babil, and beyond are pouring into the site, drawn by a tranquil atmosphere that offers a refreshing counterpoint to the city heat. Located in the northeastern part of Erbil province, Gali Ali Beg has long held a special place among Iraq's top tourist destinations. The resort's signature features—its cascading waterfalls running between rocky cliffs, its lush green surroundings, and its temperate summer climate—make it a magnet for families and solo travelers alike, especially during holidays. Alaa, who traveled from Baghdad during Eid al-Adha, shared with Shafaq News that his visit offered more than just a change of scenery. 'My trip to Gali Ali Beg felt like a real getaway. The nature here is magical, the weather is much cooler compared to Baghdad, everything is well-organized, and the tourist facilities are readily available. It all made the journey feel easy and relaxing.' That sentiment resonates with others who made the holiday journey. Among them is Samira, a mother from Nineveh, who described the resort as a perfect place to bring children during the holiday break. 'The resort is perfectly set up for families,' she expressed to Shafaq News. 'There are plenty of rest areas, restaurants, and small markets. The atmosphere is calm and enjoyable, especially for spending time with children during the Eid holiday.' The sound of rushing water and the beauty of the landscape, she added, had a calming effect on everyone in her group. 'We were impressed by how clean the place is—there's clear attention to maintaining the facilities, which we truly appreciate.' As more visitors arrive, the resort's management has been working to keep up with growing demand. Improvements in infrastructure and services haven't gone unnoticed. Mahmoud, a public employee from Babil, observed that the increased number of tourists had been matched by visible enhancements to the site. 'The site management has been working to upgrade the facilities and improve the services offered to guests,' he told our agency. 'That's become even more important with the growing number of tourists during Eid and other holidays. The strong turnout we're seeing reflects how far these efforts have come in strengthening tourism in the Kurdistan Region.' The numbers reflect the appeal. The Kurdistan Region's Tourism Board is projecting more than 300,000 tourist arrivals during the Eid al-Adha holiday—up from 220,000 during the same period last year. The Directorate of Tourism in Halabja announced that over 85,000 tourists and visitors arrived in the province during the first three days of the Eid alone, reinforcing the growing draw of the Region 's natural destinations.


Shafaq News
10 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Trump's new travel ban implemented despite controversy
Shafaq News/ A travel ban ordered by the US President Donald Trump took effect on Monday, barring nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States and prompting swift responses both internationally and domestically. Effective at 12:01 a.m. ET (0401 GMT), the measure signed last week restricts entry for citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions have been placed on nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The White House characterized the move as a 'common sense' step aimed at protecting the country from 'dangerous foreign actors.' It followed a June 1 attack in Boulder, Colorado, where 12 people were injured during a rally held in support of Israeli hostages. The FBI classified the incident as a suspected terror attack involving incendiary devices, including a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails. Authorities later identified the suspect as an Egyptian national. Egypt, however, is not among the countries listed in the directive. In a video posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump pointed to the Boulder incident as an example of the risks posed by individuals who have not been 'properly vetted,' indicating that the list could be revised if governments demonstrate 'material improvements' in identity verification and information sharing. He also noted that additional countries may be added 'as threats emerge around the world.' This marks Trump's second use of a nationality-based travel restriction. A similar order in 2017 triggered legal battles before a revised version was ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court. The new directive has already drawn diplomatic responses. Chad suspended visa services for US citizens, while Somalia expressed its readiness to engage with Washington on security cooperation. The African Union encouraged the US to pursue 'constructive dialogue' with the affected states, emphasizing the importance of a more collaborative approach to international security. Political reaction inside the United States followed quickly. In Washington, Representative Pramila Jayapal described the measure as an expanded version of Trump's earlier travel ban, warning that it could deepen the country's diplomatic isolation. Moreover, immigration advocates and civil rights organizations have also voiced concern, arguing that the directive disproportionately targets vulnerable populations and countries that lack the institutional capacity to meet US entry standards. Trump's travel ban 2.0 is just another attack on legal discriminatory, it will tear families apart, and it will hurt our must pass the No Ban Act to stop this xenophobia. — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) June 8, 2025