19-04-2025
Oman Airports signs agreement to prepare for opening of Iraq's Karbala Airport
Muscat: In a move that reflects the deep fraternal relations and fruitful cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and Iraq, Oman Airports signed a strategic partnership agreement with Taiba Karbala Company, the investor in the Karbala International Airport project.
The agreement relates to the preparation, setup, and initial operation of Karbala International Airport, one of the most vital projects in the Iraqi air transport sector.
The agreement was signed by Eng. Saeed bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Airports, and by Hajj Hassan Rashid Jawad Al Abayji, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Taiba Karbala Company.
The agreement duration will be for 15 months and will include equipping, preparing, and operating Karbala International Airport.
Under the agreement, Oman Airports will offer Omani technical cadres to support the initial operation of Karbala International Airport in the first phase, and necessary operational support after operations.
It will train all airport employees according to international specifications.
The airport is strategically located between the cities of Karbala and Najaf and can handle 2 million passengers in the first phase and 20 million passengers by the final phase.
The Karbala International Airport was constructed by the United Kingdom's Copperchase and designed by the French ADPI Company. At 4.5 km (2.8 miles), the airport's runway is the longest of its kind in Iraq.
