Iraq opens new international airport in northern Kirkuk
October 17, 2022, 12:00 pm

Iraq opens new international airport in northern Kirkuk

Iraq opens new airport in northern Kirkuk - Photo. Pixabay

Iraqi Transport Minister Nasser Al-Shibli inaugurated the first-ever international airport in the northern city of Kirkuk on Sunday (Oct 17).

Imad Daham, an Iraqi adviser, told the state news agency INA: “The airport will start receiving flights as of Sunday."

The first plane to land on the runway on the new airport was a government aircraft, carrying Iraqi Transport Minister Nasser al Shibli and Acting Finance Minister Hayam Nemat, who arrived in Kirkuk for the official opening ceremony, Kurdistan24 broadcaster reported.

Located in the southwest of Kirkuk, the airport is capable of receiving 3.5 million passengers annually, according to local officials.

It took four years to complete the new airport in Kirkuk.

Iraq currently has four international airports in Erbil, Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, and Najaf.

Curfew declared in Iraqi capital as cleric’s supporters storm presidential palace

Kirkuk is a city in Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate, located 238 kilometres north of Baghdad.

The city is home to a diverse population of Turkmens, Arabs, Kurds, and Assyrians. Kirkuk sits on the ruins of the original Kirkuk Citadel which sits near the Khasa River.

levantnews-agencies

Russia hits Ukrainian capital Kyiv with kamikaze drones Pope Francis calls for reform at United Nations after Russia-Ukraine war

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”