Al-Mustaqbal University organized a specialized scientific workshop titled “The Overland Pilgrimage Route: Darb Zubaida,” presented by Dr. Fawzia Mahdi Al-Maliki, a lecturer at the College of Arts and Humanities – Department of Archaeology, with the attendance of a number of academics, researchers, and students. The workshop comes the university’s scientific activities aimed at highlighting Islamic cultural heritage. The workshop addressed the historical significance of this route, which extends from Kufa to Mecca, and its vital role as a main pathway for pilgrimage and trade across different eras. It also reviewed the distinctive engineering features of the route, including wells, water reservoirs, rest stations, and forts that reflect an advanced level of planning during the Abbasid era. It further highlighted the prominent role of Lady Zubaida bint Jaafar in developing and securing the route to serve pilgrims, making it one of the most important service projects in Islamic history. This workshop is part of the Department of Archaeology’s efforts to enhance awareness of historical heritage and connect students with their cultural roots, as well as to support academic research related to the protection and preservation of archaeological sites along the route. Through such activities, Al-Mustaqbal University reaffirms its commitment to providing solid academic content that serves the community and preserves cultural identity. #Al-Mustaqbal_University ranked first among private universities in Iraq