Shafaq News
A journey through Saladin province —from Tikrit and Samarrato Baiji— exploring how history, identity, and post-ISIS recovery are reshapingdaily life in central Iraq.
Saladin, named after the great Muslim leader Salah al-Dinal-Ayyubi, is both a symbol and a reality: a province shaped by empire, faith,and resilience. Spanning more than 24,000 square kilometers, it connectsBaghdad to the north, acting as a bridge between Iraq’s central heartlands andits northern provinces.
Its landscapes range from the fertile Tigris floodplains tothe rugged Hamrin and Makhoul ranges, forming a natural corridor for trade,migration, and history. Archaeological sites in Tikrit and Samarra point tocivilizations that thrived long before Islam. Samarra, with its spiral Malwiyaminaret and Abbasid palace ruins, served as a ninth-century hub of learning andpower, attracting scholars, poets, and engineers.
The province’s identity remains closely intertwined with itsnamesake. Salah al-Din’s legacy —justice, unity, and moral authority— continuesto resonate with residents. Through the Ottoman and modern periods, Saladinmaintained its agricultural wealth and tribal influence. Tikrit producedmilitary officers and politicians who shaped Iraq’s modern history; underSaddam Hussein, the province occupied a central, if controversial, role innational affairs.
The fall of Saddam’s regime in 2003 plunged the provinceinto insurgency and later ISIS occupation. Cities such as Tikrit and Baiji wereleft in ruins. Today, a steady process of recovery is unfolding. Schools,homes, and marketplaces have reopened, demonstrating that Saladin is not aprovince in decline but one defined by endurance.
Neighbors Before Sects
Saladin’s population of roughly 1.6–1.8 million forms amosaic of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Sunnis, and Shias. Arabic is the dominantlanguage, though Kurdish and Turkmen are commonly spoken in Tuz Khurmatu andthe northeastern districts. Sunnis hold majorities in Tikrit, Samarra, andBaiji, while Shia communities are concentrated in Balad and Dujail. Samarra,home to the eleventh Shia Imam, Mohammad bin Hassan Al-Askari Shrine, remains asacred site, drawing pilgrims from across Iraq and Iran.
The province’s diversity has brought both challenges andresilience. Markets, mosques, and schools convey a quiet ethos: “neighborsbefore sects.” Tribal networks continue to play a central role in localgovernance. The Jubur, al-Bu Nasir, Ubayd, and al-Dulaym tribes mediatedisputes and uphold social order in areas where the state’s presence islimited.
Tikrit serves as the administrative and educational center,while Samarra combines commerce with spiritual significance. Baiji and Baladsustain a balance of industrial and agricultural activity. Rural villages, longscarred by war and displacement, are gradually returning to life. Farmers adaptto damaged irrigation systems, and families rebuild their homes. Residentsidentify as ‘’Ahl al-Nahr’’ —people of the river— reflecting their enduringconnection to the Tigris.
Oil Meets Dust
Saladin’s terrain presents both opportunities and challengesas the Tigris irrigates farmland, supports cities, and sustains livelihoods. Tothe east, the Hamrin Mountains harbor minerals and fragile forests, while tothe west, semi-desert plains stretch toward al-Anbar province.
The province experiences a continental climate, withscorching summers above 45°C, cool winters, and most rainfall between Novemberand March. Water scarcity remains, as almost the whole of Iraq, a persistentconcern. Agriculture dominates local life, with wheat, barley, corn,vegetables, dates, cotton, and livestock forming the backbone ofproduction. Recurring droughts, damagedirrigation networks, and rising soil salinity continue to threaten yields.
Beneath the surface, oil and gas remain strategic resources. The Baiji Refinery, once Iraq’s largest, processed over 300,000 barrels daily. The Ajeel and Allas oil fields have resumed activity, while phosphate depositsprovide further economic potential.
Environmental pressures persist, including desertification,reduced Tigris flow, industrial pollution, and deforestation, all intensifiedover recent decades. Yet farmers maintain traditional water-sharing practicesand crop rotation, sustaining livelihoods through knowledge passed down acrossgenerations.
Rising from Ruins
Industry in Saladin revolves around oil. The partialrestoration of the Baiji Refinery provides employment and supports economicstability, while the Ajeel and Allas fields contribute to energy output. Tradehas revived along the Baghdad–Mosul corridor, and Tikrit’s markets bustle withactivity.
Infrastructure, however, remains uneven. Electricity supplyis inconsistent, schools and hospitals are often overcrowded, and many roadsare under repair. Despite these challenges, progress is evident compared to thedevastation following the ISIS occupation.
Education plays a central role in the province’s recovery. The University of Tikrit and Samarra University host tens of thousands ofstudents. The faculties of medicine, engineering, and agriculture train thenext generation tasked with rebuilding Saladin. Schools and vocational programsin rural areas complement urban institutions, linking recovery to opportunity.
Verse and Veneration
Saladin’s culture blends historical grandeur, religioussignificance, and contemporary creativity. Samarra’s al-Askari Shrine andAbbasid monuments serve as both sacred sites and cultural anchors, attractingartisans, pilgrims, and historians.
Cultural life thrives despite adversity with Tikrit hostspoetry readings, art exhibitions, and music performances, often exploringthemes of war, displacement, and return. Universities function as culturalhubs, fostering research, debate, and heritage preservation. Tribal traditions,oral storytelling, mawwal poetry, and music continue in weddings and religiousfestivals, linking communities to their past.
Future Is Now
Saladin faces structural challenges across reconstruction,economic diversification, social healing, and environmental stress. Thousandsof homes, schools, and roads remain under repair, while bureaucratic delays andlimited support from Baghdad complicate progress.
Economic reliance on oil and agriculture leaves the provincevulnerable. Emerging solar energy projects, small-scale industries, andlogistics ventures offer new avenues for growth. Environmental pressures—including drought, reduced Tigris flow, and desertification— demand urgentadaptation.
In addition, areas once under ISIS control continue toexperience mistrust between sects and tribes. Dialogue programs, tribalmediation, and community initiatives are gradually restoring trust.
Despite these hurdles, signs of optimism are visible. Youngengineers develop low-cost housing solutions, students document heritagerestoration, and women-led cooperatives revive traditional crafts for export. Each initiative reflects a province not only surviving but striving toward asustainable and diversified future.
Written and edited by Shafaq News staff.