Al Najaf International Airport (IATA: NJF, ICAO: ORNI) serves the city of Najaf in central Iraq, approximately 160 kilometres south of Baghdad. The airport is a critical hub for religious tourism, as Najaf is home to the Imam Ali Shrine, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, drawing millions of pilgrims annually from Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, and beyond. The airport was developed and expanded to accommodate the significant volume of pilgrimage traffic, particularly during major religious occasions such as Arbaeen, when passenger numbers surge dramatically. It handles both domestic routes within Iraq and international connections to Iran, the Gulf states, and other countries with large Shia Muslim populations. Infrastructure improvements have been ongoing to increase capacity and modernise facilities, though the airport continues to face challenges related to regional instability and the demands of mass religious events.