WSI Group/SAG to Modernize International Airport and Make Travel to the Holy Cities of Najaf and Karbala Easier and Safer
Governor Asad Abu-Kalal today entered into a 10-year agreement with World Strategic Initiatives (WSI) Group of Dubai and Sahel Al-Jazera Group of Iraq to fully revamp and modernize the airport. Flights will begin in a matter of months.
"A modern airport is a necessary step in the rebuilding of Najaf and Iraq," Governor Abu-Kalal said. "It is necessary for our brothers and sisters who visit the Holy Cities of Najaf and Karbala , and it is necessary for businesses to move goods and services into Najaf and Karbala as we become among Iraq's most vibrant regions."
Najaf, located 160 kilometers south of Baghdad, and nearby Karbala, receive millions of pilgrims each year.
The Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf is the third most visited site in Islam, behind only Mecca and Medina. The renovated airport, expected to cost in excess of $300 million, will ensure pilgrims will arrive comfortably and safely.
"All travelers to Najaf will receive the best in airport services," said Henry E. Wilkins, the president and chief executive officer of the WSI Group. "Our goal is to make their entry into, and exit from, Najaf smooth, efficient, pleasant and secure.
"This is more than just a localized airport project," Wilkins continued. "This is a milestone project for Iraq.
This signals a new day for Iraq and brings a much needed modernization to an area that is extremely important to the Muslim faith."
More than 1,000 Iraqis will be hired during the initial construction phase, and more than 3,000 will be employed when the project is fully complete.
The WSI/SAG project will widen the runway as well as lengthen it to over three kilometers, which will allow all types of wide-bodied aircrafts to land there for the first time in its history. The agreement calls for a tarmac and terminal that can handle 15 large passenger jets at a time.
Additionally, the security technology and the immigration system will be fully modern. The airport will also feature all of the amenities that international travelers expect from modern airports, including restaurants, comfortable lounges, duty free shops and a modern hotel with a business center with full internet capabilities and a 24-hour travel desk.
WSI Group is an international security, construction and consulting company providing strategic assistance and operational services. WSI Group currently has more than a dozen projects in several countries, including Afghanistan, Jordan and Iraq.