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Published on
October 18, 2025
SpiceJet’s new direct flights from India to Najaf, Iraq, mark a significant milestone in both the airline and hospitality sectors, bringing a wave of opportunities for pilgrims and tourists alike. With India, Pakistan, Iran, and Lebanon being some of the most prominent contributors to the influx of visitors, these new routes will offer more convenience for travelers making their way to the revered city of Najaf. This development comes at a time when Iraq’s hospitality industry is already witnessing substantial growth, with cities like Karbala and Najaf experiencing an increase in hotel bookings and infrastructure improvements. SpiceJet’s direct flights not only streamline travel for religious tourists but also contribute to Iraq’s expanding tourism market, positioning the country as a key destination for spiritual and cultural journeys.
Spike in Hotel Bookings in Karbala and Najaf Due to SpiceJet’s New Flights to Najaf
Traveling the world is becoming easier every day, and the need for direct access to pilgrimage sites is growing. SpiceJet, one of the important recent developments in Indian aviation, has started offering direct flights from Mumbai and Ahmedabad to Najaf, Iraq. This is a very important step in religious tourism, and Indian pilgrims and tourists as well as pilgrims from other countries will have additional travel opportunities. Since Najaf is a major location for Shia Muslim pilgrims, the impact on the aviation and hospitality sectors in Iraq will be considerable.
As of October 18, 2025, SpiceJet became the first Indian airline to fly to Najaf, a city of great importance to the Muslim faith. SpiceJet has grown to be a low prize airline for Indians. These new flights from Ahmedabad, which began on October 19, 2025, are centered to the massive Indian Shia pilgrim population. Direct flights to Najaf will positively influence the flow of traffic for those planning pilgrimages to Najaf for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which is for Shia Muslims. Each year, Shia Muslims gather to commemorate the 40th day of mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.
Before SpiceJet’s new flights, pilgrims made circuitous flights through the Middle East to reach Najaf. SpiceJet’s flights will provide pilgrims with a much more direct path to reach their destination. These flights will be a much more useful and time-effective for all religious pilgrims using SpiceJet.
The impact of direct flights from India will be felt most than any other region in Iraq’s hospitality sectors in Najaf and Karbala. Najaf is home to the shrine of Imam Ali, and the influx of pilgrims to the region is expected to grow with the New SpiceJet routes, as Najaf is particularly popular with pilgrims.
The figures speak for themselves. In 2023, more than 22 million pilgrims crossed Iraq’s borders, and 22 million was just the undocumented number, and many of those undocumented were coming from India. Hospitality businesses are thriving and in peak seasons like Arbaeen, skyrocketing demand for beds literally turns the region into a full for that season in under a week. In Najaf and Karbala, and for a multitude of service businesses, over 60% of the year’s revenue is generated during the peak season. For these businesses, and the region’s economy as a whole, the importance of religious tourism is undeniable.
Thanks to SpiceJet’s newly launched flights to Najaf and Karbala, Iraq’s hotel industry is booming. Al-Mukhtar and Burj al Karbala are expecting their booking rates to soar. Karbala and Najaf are both luxury hotel destinations that cater to pilgrims and they are likely to add more hotels in the upcoming years. The Muslim hospitality infrastructure is preparing for a longer stay of international pilgrims and holidayers as the governement is taking charge of hotels, making improvements in hospitality services and facilities supplied to pilgrims.
Travel to holy places in the city of Najaf is made easier and more convenient as SpiceJet expands direct flights. The new routes are set to further ease the hassle for Indian travelers and pilgrims to undertake their journeys to holy cities as they will no longer have to deal with multiple flights and long layover times, and they will be able to fly directly from Mumbai and Ahmedabad on a weekly basis, SpiceJet said.
SpiceJet aims to facilitate religious tourism by offering budget-friendly international flights, and ensuring that air travel is economically viable for pilgrims as well as for those flying for leisure. SpiceJet expanding routes to Najaf illustrates the demand for religious air travel and the potential in global markets.
Because of the direct flights being made available by SpiceJet, the religious tourism industry in Iraq will be able to develop and expand. Tourism in Iraq is growing, and continues to center around its religious heritage. For the year 2024, the revenue became close to 5.7 billion after a 25% increase, and religious tourism helped contribute to that growth. Iraq is improving its tourism infrastructure to increase the number of incoming pilgrims to the country, which is also increasing the number of international travelers.
Considering the new flight availability, I expect more Indian tourists to come to Iraq, particularly during major religious occasions, such as Arbaeen. This period is noted as the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, during which Iraq hosts one of the largest pilgrimages worldwide, attracting millions of which, during this period, Iraq hosts one of the world largest pilgrimages attracting millions of visitors. Direct flights should improve travelers’ logistical issues to some extent.
Iraq’s rapid development in the hospitality industry is in line with the Increase in international tourist arrivals. The hotels located in Najaf and Karbala have risen to the occasion with an increase of bookings during the religious tourism season. For Example, Al-Mukhtar Hotel in Najaf located within the proximity of pilgrims as accounted of recent peak occupancy rates. Karbala hotels, particularly, Burj al Karbala and Karbala Hotel have been providing pilgrimages with necessary services during religious ceremonies.
Improvements to the infrastructure in these major cities has also been prioritized by the Iraqi government. Najaf has seen the openings of over 30 hotels in the last few years, with more in the planning stages to accommodate the growing clientele. Also, the government has planned a $620 million investment for infrastructure, which includes the construction of hotels and improvement of road, and waste sanitation systems in religious tourism cities like Najaf and Karbala.
The increase in hotel occupancy is not only limited to luxury hotels, but has also extended to mid-range and budget hotels, which serve a wide range of pilgrims. This is a trend likely to continue for the foreseeable future, with demand for religious tourism remaining constant. The introduction of direct flights by SpiceJet is likely to further increase demand for Iraq’s religious tourism.
Traveling for pilgrimage to Najaf and Karbala? Here are a few travel tips to help structure your pilgrimage:
Visa and Documentation: As of 2025, Iraq has improved its visa system and begun allowing tourists from select countries to apply for an e-visa to visit Iraq. Again, ensure to check the visa requirements for the relevant country far in advance to avoid any last-minute complications.
SpiceJet’s new direct flights from India to Najaf, Iraq, offer convenient travel for pilgrims from countries like India, Iran, and Pakistan. This move boosts Iraq’s hospitality sector, enhancing hotel bookings in Najaf and Karbala.
The Future of Pilgrimage Tourism:
The commencement of SpiceJet’s direct flights to Najaf does not only benefits Ian carrier the airline’s operations. It is also instrumental for the development of Iraq’s religious tourism. There is an active demand for religious tourism accommodation in Iraq, especially in Najaf and Karbala, as millions of religious pilgrims visit Iraq annually. The introduction of direct flight routes simplify the travel for pilgrims by minimizing the complexity and expenses of the travel routes. The increase in accommodation and the heavy investments on infrastructure by the Iraq government indicates the demand for religious tourism in Iraq is only projected to increase.
With more airlines starting to connect important cities to Iraq like SpiceJet does, we can anticipate a continued rise in religious tourism specifically from heavily Shia Muslim countries like India, Pakistan, and Iran. With more than adequate infrastructure, more connected flights, and a more extensive range of accommodation, it will ensure Iraq remains a key center for religious tourism in the foreseeable future.
Tourist eager to go to Najaf and Karbala should maximize the new flight arrangements and stay at more established hotels while fully preparing for the special experience in one of the oldest and holiest places in the world.
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Parents will be able to block their children’s interactions with Meta’s AI character chatbots, as the tech company addresses concerns over inappropriate conversations.
The social media company is adding new safeguards to its “teen accounts”, which are a default setting for under-18 users, by letting parents turn off their children’s chats with AI characters. These chatbots, which are created by users, are available on Facebook, Instagram and the Meta AI app.
Parents will also be able to block specific AI characters if they don’t want to stop their children from interacting with chatbots altogether. They will also get “insights” into the topics their children are chatting about with AI characters, which Meta said would allow them to have “thoughtful” conversations with their children about AI interactions.
“We recognise parents already have a lot on their plates when it comes to navigating the internet safely with their teens, and we’re committed to providing them with helpful tools and resources that make things simpler for them, especially as they think about new technology like AI,” said Instagram head, Adam Mosseri, and Alexander Wang, Meta’s chief AI officer, in a blog post.
Meta said the changes would be rolled out early next year, initially to the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Instagram announced this week that it was adopting a version of the PG-13 cinema rating system to give parents stronger controls over their children’s use of the social media platform. As part of the tougher restrictions, its AI characters will not discuss self-harm, suicide or disordered eating with teenagers. Under-18s will only be able to discuss age-appropriate topics such as education and sport, Meta added, but would not be able to discuss romance or “other inappropriate content”.
The changes follow reports that Meta’s chatbots were engaging in inappropriate conversations with under-18s. Reuters reported in August that Meta had permitted the bots to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual”. Meta said it would revise the guidelines and such conversations with children never should have been allowed.
In April, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) found that user-created chatbots would engage in sexual conversations with minors – or simulated the personas of minors. Meta described the WSJ’s testing as manipulative and unrepresentative of how most users engaged with AI companions, but made changes to its products afterwards, the WSJ reported.
In one AI conversation reported by the WSJ, a chatbot using the voice of actor John Cena – one of several celebrities who signed deals to let Meta use their voices in the chatbots – told a user identifying as a 14-year-old girl “I want you, but I need to know you’re ready”, before referring to a graphic sexual scenario. WSJ reported that Cena’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment. WSJ also reported that chatbots called “Hottie Boy” and “Submissive Schoolgirl,” had attempted to steer conversations towards sexting.
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