Dubai,  flydubai, Dubai’s low cost carrier, began its three-times weekly service to Najaf today, bringing its total number of destinations in Iraq to four.

The inaugural flight, FZ221, departed Dubai Terminal 2 at 0700hrs, and landed in Najaf International Airport at 0840hrs local time. The return flight, FZ222, departed at 0940hrs, arriving in Dubai at 1250hrs. The flight marks the second new Iraqi destination for flydubai this month, following the start of flights to the capital, Baghdad, 10 days ago.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s CEO, said: “The new service reflects our strategy to link Dubai with underserved airports, making it more convenient for inbound and outbound passengers and we believe that this service will strengthen the already very strong relations between our two countries.”

The Iraqi Government has allocated $40 billion this year for development projects covering infrastructure, electricity, education and health. Telecoms is another rapidly expanding sector – the first subsea cable was recently installed, paving the way for increased broadband connectivity across the country.

In an effort to further boost relations between Iraq and GCC countries such as the UAE, officials are in discussions to host the next Arab Summit in Baghdad this March.

The new route is the 48th destination to which flydubai has started operations across the GCC, Middle East, Africa, Indian Sub-Continent, Asia, CIS and the fringes of Europe.

Source: flydubai

Background:
(compiled by arabaviation.com)

Najaf (النجف‎; An Najaf) the capital of Najaf Governorate, about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 was 560,000.. It is widely considered the third holiest city of Shi'a Islam.

Najaf is renowned as the site of the tomb of Alī ibn Abī Tālib also known as "Imām Alī" the First Imam of Shia's , the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad. The city currently has very active of pilgrimage from throughout the Shi'a Islamic world. It is estimated that only Mecca and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims. As the burial site of Shia Islam's second most important figure, the Imam Ali Mosque is considered by Shias as the third holiest Islamic site.

The Najaf seminary is one of the most important teaching centres in the Islamic world.  Many of the leading figures of the Islamic movement that emerged in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon in the 1970s had studied at Najaf.