In a city that welcomes millions of visitors each year and faces growing challenges related to crowd management and service provision, the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) is moving forward with the implementation of the Grand Expansion Project—one of the largest religious construction projects in Iraq. The project establishes new foundations for organizing pilgrim movement and upgrading the infrastructure surrounding the holy shrine, as part of a comprehensive vision that responds to the continuous rise in the number of visitors to Karbala.

The Head of the Expansion Projects Department at the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain, Engineer Hussain Redha Mahdi, stated that “the Grand Expansion Project is considered one of the largest religious construction initiatives in Iraq, due to its unprecedented service, organizational, and architectural dimensions, all aimed at enhancing the quality of services provided to the visitors of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him).”

He explained that the project is being implemented by the Expansion Projects Department of the General Secretariat of the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain under the direct guidance of the representative of the Supreme Religious Authority, Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi Al-Karbalaey, with continuous follow-up by the Secretary-General, Mr. Hassan Rashid Jawad Al-Abayechi, and under the supervision of specialized engineering and technical teams.

Engineer Mahdi added that the project consists of four main courtyards surrounding the holy shrine, covering a total area of approximately 750,000 square meters. Of this area, about 500,000 square meters are designated for worship spaces, while 250,000 square meters are allocated to service facilities. These include integrated amenities for visitors, systems to regulate entry and exit, and comprehensive health, security, and logistical services.

He noted that upon completion, the project will have the capacity to accommodate more than one million visitors simultaneously within the expanded area, marking a qualitative shift in crowd management during major pilgrimage seasons, particularly in light of the steady annual increase in the number of pilgrims visiting Karbala.

The project, he emphasized, is the first of its kind among holy shrine developments in Iraq in terms of scale, functional integration, and pilgrimage-oriented urban planning. Its implementation reflects the growing need for infrastructure that corresponds with Karbala’s religious and humanitarian significance while adhering to modern safety and organizational standards.

“The Grand Expansion Project represents not merely an urban expansion,” Engineer Mahdi concluded, “but a long-term strategic vision for managing mass pilgrimages, ensuring smooth movement, enhancing safety, and providing the highest level of services to the millions who visit Karbala each year.”

The Grand Expansion Project thus stands as a pivotal strategic milestone in the development of pilgrim services at the Shrine of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), combining modern urban planning with the spiritual and humanitarian dimensions of the pilgrimage. It ushers in a new era that is more organized, secure, and efficient, reflecting the sacred status of Karbala and meeting the evolving needs of its visitors year after year.