Najaf النجف
Najaf has a population of 1,950,833 in the 2024 census, 30 hospitals (19 public, 11 private) and 3 public universities. The Ministry of Construction lists 15 building projects here (1 completed, 3 past contract end), as of 1 Jun 2026.
people, census 20241,950,8334.2% of Iraq
construction projects151 completed, 3 past contract end
Human Development Index0.7150.600 in 2008. Iraq: 0.712
university students47,77630,211 day, 17,565 evening
Sources: Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of ConstructionDetails
Projects in Najaf
From the Ministry of Construction, as of 1 Jun 2026.
Completed1
On track5
Behind plan4
Past contract end3
No progress data2
Overland Hajj road (239 km), phase one, 50 km from km 27 to km 77, Najaf Contract ended 7 Jul 2025, 329 days before the data date Past contract end Second carriageway of the overland Hajj road, phase three, 27 km Contract ended 4 Sept 2025, 270 days before the data date Past contract end Maintenance and rehabilitation of the quarries road, old lane, 27 km, Najaf Contract ended 1 Nov 2025, 212 days before the data date Past contract end Phase three of the shrine of Martyr Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr 10.3 points below planned progress Behind plan National water and sanitation master plan for the cities, districts and subdistricts of Najaf 19.6 points below planned progress Behind plan Unified Najaf and Kufa water project (2008) 14.8 points below planned progress Behind plan Overland Hajj road (239 km), phase two, 50 km from km 77 to km 127, Najaf 11.5 points below planned progress Behind plan Al-Nidaa neighbourhood sewage project, Najaf (infrastructure) Contract ends 25 Jun 2028 On track Second carriageway linking the Kifl to Qasim expressway, 30 km, Najaf (infrastructure) Contract ends 29 Aug 2028 On track Widening of the Haidariya to Najaf and Karbala road, 15.64 km Contract ends 13 Jul 2026 On track Third Kufa bridge (Imam Ali bridge) Contract ends 5 Sept 2026 On track Fifth Kufa bridge Contract ends 22 Jun 2028 On track Supply, construction and installation of the Najaf sewage treatment plant, phase 2, design capacity 100,000 m3 per day Completed Najaf sewage treatment plant, phase 3 (design and build), Najaf No progress data Haidariya city sewage project, Najaf (infrastructure) No progress data
Source: Ministry of Construction, status as of 1 Jun 2026Details
Border crossings
- Airport
- Najaf International Airport
Source: Border Ports Commission, published 28 Jan 2026Details
Hospitals and health centres
- Public hospitals
- 19
- Private hospitals
- 11
- Primary health care centres
- 90
Source: Ministry of Health, updated 17 Jun 2026Details
Public universities
- University of Kufa
- Founded 1987, 21 colleges
- Jabir ibn Hayyan University for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Founded 2014, 3 colleges
- Al Furat Al Awsat Technical University
- Founded 2014, 13 colleges and institutes
Source: Ministry of Higher Education, updated 17 Oct 2026Details
Services from the Najaf governorate office
All 12 Online enquiries, Najaf Governorate الاستعلامات الإلكترونية- ديوان محافظة النجف Start online Apply to rent municipal property in Najaf تقديم طلب إلكتروني لاستئجار أحد أملاك بلدية النجف الأشرف Start online Apply for services from the Najaf Water Directorate تقديم طلب الكتروني على خدمات دائرة ماء النجف الاشرف Start online Apply for seedlings and plants, Najaf تقديم طلب إلكتروني للحصول على شتلات ومغروسات - محافظة النجف الاشرف Start online Apply for building permits and document verification, Najaf تقديم طلب إلكتروني للحصول على إجازات البناء وصحة الصدور - النجف الأشرف Start online Report road and bridge maintenance problems, Najaf التقديم الإلكتروني للإبلاغ عن المشاكل المتعلقة بصيانة الطرق والجسور - محافظة النجف الاشرف Start online
Source: UR portal, updated 26 Aug 2026Details