Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq is officially advancing its bid for Baghdad to be named the Islamic Tourism Capital for 2028. This initiative was a key topic of discussion in a meeting today, Monday (September 22, 2025), between Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Mohammed Tamim, and a delegation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the third Arab Tourism Statistics Forum in Baghdad, saw Minister Tamim host Zehra Selcuk, the director of the OIC’s Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre (SESRIC). According to a statement from the Ministry of Planning, the two sides discussed shared cooperation in various fields, with a particular focus on tourism investment. Selcuk expressed her center’s support for Iraq’s request, recognizing Baghdad’s rich historical and intellectual heritage.
This new bid for 2028 is a strategic follow-up to Baghdad’s recent designation as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2025. The meeting also covered Iraq’s upcoming presidency of the Islamic Research Center in 2026. Minister Tamim is scheduled to attend the Statistical Committee’s meetings in Ankara, Turkey, from October 1-3.
