Wasit and Kirkuk Declare Official Holiday Ahead of Arba’een Pilgrimage

Wasit and Kirkuk Declare Official Holiday Ahead of Arba’een Pilgrimage
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The local governments of Wasit and Kirkuk provinces have announced the suspension of official working hours next Sunday as part of preparations for the Arba’een pilgrimage of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and to facilitate citizens’ participation in the religious commemoration.

The Wasit Governorate office said Governor Ali Hassan Salimoun ordered the suspension of work in government departments across the province on Sunday to allow residents and pilgrims to take part in Arba’een activities.

In Kirkuk, Governor Mohammed Saman Agha announced a similar decision, suspending official work in provincial institutions as part of measures aimed at supporting pilgrimage preparations and ensuring the necessary services for visitors.

Authorities in both provinces confirmed that security and essential service departments are exempt from the holiday to maintain the continuity of vital operations for citizens and pilgrims.

The decisions follow similar measures announced by other Iraqi provinces, including Diyala. The Iraqi Council of Ministers had previously approved a nationwide suspension of official working hours in state institutions on August 3 and 4, 2026, in observance of Arba’een.