Al-Ukhaidir Fortress
Al-Ukhaidir Fortress is an Abbasid architecture fortress built from brick and limestone around the 9th century. It is a Tentative World Heritage Site and is the 26th most looked-up sight in Iraq on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The weather is warmest from June to September, when daily highs reach about 40 °C or 42 °C. The coolest months are January and December, with daily highs between 14 °C and 16 °C. Rainfall is minimal throughout the year, with the most rain occurring in January, February, March, and December, totaling about 14 to 17 mm across 3 or 4 days.
To reach the fortress, you can fly into Al Najaf International Airport, which is 91 km away. It is located 121 km from Baghdad. Travelers can combine a visit to the fortress with trips to the Imam Husayn Shrine or the Al-Abbas Shrine, both of which are about 45 km away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 42 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 14 | 17 | 22 | 29 | 36 | 40 | 42 | 42 | 38 | 32 | 22 | 16 |
| Average low, °C | 5 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 17 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 15 |
| Rainy days | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
