As part of the celebrations and activities of the International Week of Al Sadiqayn—held in honor of the blessed birth anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and his grandson, Imam Al Sadiq (peace be upon him)—the Secretary-General of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine laid the foundation stone for a major development project aimed at serving pilgrims on the Ya Hussain Road. The project will cover an area of 59,000 square meters.

According to the Holy Shrine’s official website, “The ceremony was held to lay the foundation stone for the Murtada City for Pilgrims project on the Ya Hussain Road between Najaf and Karbala, in the presence of a group of businessmen and servants, the Deputy Secretary-General, members of the Board of Directors, department heads, and a group of engineering and technical personnel working at the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him).”

The website added that “Deputy Secretary-General Ihsan Al-Taee delivered the General Secretariat's speech, emphasizing that the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali has taken upon itself the responsibility of adopting and implementing various projects that enhance services provided to the Holy Shrine, the people of the holy city of Najaf, and the pilgrims who visit it.”

A Fully-Serviced Pilgrims’ City

Regarding the scope of the project, the head of the Engineering and Technical Affairs Department, Mustafa Mahbouba, stated, “The total project area is 59,000 square meters. The construction area for the pilgrim service station (mawkib) is 3,750 square meters, the Husseiniya—where mourning ceremonies are held—is also 3,750 square meters, and the rest area for pilgrims is 2,400 square meters, with separate facilities for men and women.”

He added, “The project will also include a central kitchen, sleeping halls, green areas covering 7,540 square meters, service walkways, and parking for 245 vehicles.”

Providing a Comfortable Environment for Pilgrims

Dr. Alaa Al Turk, the project design manager, noted that “the Al Murtada Pilgrims City project is located on the Ya Hussain Road near pole number 96, north of the entrance to Najaf Governorate, en route to the holy city of Karbala. The project aims to provide a comfortable, integrated, and modern environment for pilgrims. The Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) has placed significant focus on meeting all the needs of visitors in this location.”

It is worth noting that the International Week of Al Sadiqayn is held within the interior and exterior courtyards of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine and the Courtyard of Lady Fatima Al Zahra (peace be upon her), from the thirteenth to the seventeenth of Rabi al Awwal. The week features numerous cultural, developmental, and educational events, honoring ceremonies, banquets, and the announcement of several new service projects.