The Prophet Abraham Church project in Dhi Qar Province, southern Iraq, holds great importance because it includes landmarks with religious and historical symbols that benefit the enhancement of the tourism sector at both local and international levels, leaving positive impacts on the community.
The project began in 2022, and the church is expected to open next year after the construction work has reached its final stages.
The idea of establishing the Church of Prophet Abraham came when Pope Francis visited the ancient city of Ur in March 2021, as it is considered the birthplace of Prophet Abraham, according to historians who also rely on what is mentioned in the Bible. But Pope Francis did not find a church in the historical city of Ur to hold a mass, especially since the Dhi Qar Governorate no longer has any Christians due to a series of migrations following the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. This prompted the Iraqi priest Ador Fattouhi to donate for the construction of a church on land donated by a resident of the historic city of Ur.
The Prophet Abraham Church project falls within a package of tourism projects in the city of Dhi Qar, according to tourism expert Shakir Al-Ardawi, which contributes to enhancing the tourism sector in Dhi Qar and Iraq in general.
Al-Ardawi expects the project to encourage the people of Dhi Qar to establish small and medium-sized enterprises, noting that investors are preparing to build hotels, restaurants, and various tourist and service facilities. He says: "Upon completion of the project, the church will welcome more than two million pilgrims annually who will visit the Ziggurat of Ur, which represents a pilgrimage center for Christians."
The Ziggurat of Ur is considered one of the oldest temples that remain in Iraq, built by the Sumerian king Ur-Nammu, the founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur and its greatest king, around 2100 BC. He today represents one of the most important historical symbols in the city of Ur, which is preparing to launch a major tourism project.
Activist Asaad Esho talks about how "the Prophet Abraham Church project in Ur will be a gateway to enhancing peace and stability in Iraq and will encourage the return of a large number of Iraqi migrants who were displaced due to three decades of wars and terrorism, especially Christians."
He adds: "Iraq is known for its mixed social fabric, which consists of several religions, sects, and ethnicities." And these projects strengthen the cohesion of this fabric.
The project will place Dhi Qar on the map of international religious tourism, making it a major attraction for pilgrims and visitors from various Abrahamic religions that consider Prophet Abraham a central figure, according to Iraqi heritage specialist Star Al-Baghdadi, who adds: "Dhi Qar is known as the home of ancient civilizations, such as the Sumerians, and the birthplace of Prophet Abraham." Connecting these historical sites to the project enhances the region's appeal to visitors who are interested in history and heritage.
Journalist Majid Al-Abadi, a resident of Dhi Qar, says: "The residents of Dhi Qar province will benefit the most from the project, which will make their city internationally famous and classify it as a major tourist center.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani inaugurated the first phase of the Ur Tourist City project last August, which included the establishment of the cultural center, the open Sumerian theater, the closed theater, the interfaith dialogue center, and the administrative wing that contains meeting halls.
On this occasion, Al-Sudani announced the launch of the implementation of the Global Ur Museum project, a tourist hotel with a capacity of 400 rooms, a drama production city, the "Seal of the Prophets" mosque project, and the establishment of a heritage market project.
In this regard, work continues to complete the Nasiriyah International Airport project in Dhi Qar to welcome waves of tourists and visitors.
He adds: "The Ur Church project will restore some of the greatness of the city of Dhi Qar, which embraced civilizations that have made significant contributions to the world." The Sumerian Ziggurat of Ur is the most well-known historical landmark today, but many do not know that in Dhi Qar there are more than 1,200 archaeological sites from different historical periods dating back to the eras of Sumer, Ur, Larsa, and others, extending to the Islamic period.
He continues: "The city hosts archaeological sites considered among the richest in the world, according to international archaeologists, not only because of their antiquity but also because they reveal significant scientific, cultural, and social developments in the pre-Christian eras, including the oldest court in history.
From here, Al-Abadi sees that Dhi Qar is heading towards a significant positive change that will yield greater benefits for its residents. This is also confirmed by Ahmed Al-Ghazi, one of the city's residents, who points out that the prices of properties surrounding the project, especially agricultural lands, have started to rise.
He says, "The people in Dhi Qar are building great hopes on the big project that can provide thousands of job opportunities." Investors are purchasing large plots of land around the project, reflecting the fact that many are convinced a significant tourist movement will emerge in the area, necessitating the establishment of various tourist and service facilities.