Efforts being exerted to facilitate travelers’ entry into Iraq for Cup

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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: Director of the Abdali Border Customs Saad Al-Mutairi affirmed that the customs officers exerted great efforts to facilitate entry procedures to Iraq for those desiring to attend the Gulf Football Championship matches (Gulf 25) in Basra, reports Al-Rai daily. In a press statement, Al-Mutairi explained that the number of vehicles that left Kuwait during the period from January 1 to January 15, 2023 amounted to 7,026. The number of vehicles coming during the same period reached 6,295 vehicles.

Most of these vehicles carry Kuwait and Gulf number plates. Based on instructions from the Director General of the General Administration of Customs Sulaiman Al-Fahad regarding the need to provide all means of comfort for travelers, all customs cabins have been opened for inspection. Coordination has also been made with the Ministry of Interior for the process of organizing the entry and exit of vehicles with ease.

A hall has been prepared for facilities to meet the traveler’s needs while waiting either for inspection or passport stamping. The Director General’s instructions are strict about checking and inspection so that the traffic jams are not exploited by smugglers, especially since the port is open around the clock. Regarding the two-dinar fee for each vehicle, Al-Mutairi said, “These fees are collected by a company that has a contract with customs, in return for providing logistical and technical services, in addition to providing inspection and ultraviolet radiation devices to detect contraband. Their cost is high and their efficiency is great.”

In a related context, Head of the Iraqi Border Crossings Authority Major General Omar Al-Waeli announced on Sunday that more than 55,000 visitors from the Arabian Gulf countries entered Iraq since the launch of the Gulf 25 tournament, through the Basra International Airport and Safwan Border (opposite Kuwait’s Abdali port).

In a statement to KUNA, Al-Waeli said the total number of visitors through Basra International Airport from last December 28 to January 15 reached 16,874. The total number of visitors through the Safwan border crossing with the State of Kuwait reached 38,527. The total number of visitors amounted to 55,401, including fans, players, official delegations and media professionals from all countries participating in the tournament.

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