![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S4I2TKMQK5FSXNA6E43B7WGZAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b537c7c5a07a2eb4ea8cb08570a2294e073f1e81f2f8468f11463e57a498311&width=400&height=225)
It's all to play for in January ... a copy of the Arabian Gulf Cup attached to the bus bonnet stands gleaming in the sunshine
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TAJXRUE45VDZVN5O245ZTCNY3U.jpg?smart=true&auth=db2ebf7ae14ece3a3d778d027bae074d5a76b64bbe52625094108ca6352cfa1e&width=400&height=225)
The Gulf Bus will hit the road in the next few days in a journey of peace and love from Basra where the Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament is due to take place in January. All photos: Essam Jaafar Athab
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LTGUOG64RBASRM2WN5ZZLRGJH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5bca2aef6f10d648d6541d0ea12c8b7dbf86ad802b052f7b00759f1b5c62b9a2&width=400&height=225)
The bus parks outside Basra Museum
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJMHEW73SRH23EN4T744UNN4YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7ba5b127633b68b06037c7dd6c4f3a9e389d9ea5ec9ac66ff741d1ec5fa9b27&width=400&height=225)
The wood-panelled buses were the main means of public transport in Basra for decades
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O7HG2NYO2VCI3D2XYMSJZSYI2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4224a778b75e657b073b5bfaa25d35f202bb35ea15e7e0f173aa46933a68640&width=400&height=225)
A Chevrolet agent in Iraq imported Chevy Apache vehicles in the 1950s that were later converted by local carpenters in Basra into buses by building wooden sidings
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EQRMER7LGFCDROF7I3IDFD32FY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a9db7c57fad1877e0986e5f1b3d1ad09c8f0ba614ce6d7b3bbfdbfffe92607d&width=400&height=225)
The bus will be driven by the last craftsman in Basra, Jassim Al Assmar, and visit Iraq’s 18 provinces before heading to the Gulf states to promote the eight-team tournament
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HXSKRWPVPZFDFCDBPEADJBLRUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=81dc22ca1b8708817360e1c7cf459c136b39b9b5d352ac97153c6770d38645be&width=400&height=225)
The seats are covered with flat-woven kilims prepared by Iraqi female farmers from the southern province of Samawa, with sayings such as 'You are welcome' and 'Our Gulf is one'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UKNGGXQJBBF5ZFA5YT52NWUD2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=8826aa68caf96416fd7d4bc36bbf5e32f626c2e0cb296c8a13556e9582633934&width=400&height=225)
The Gulf Bus outside Basra International Stadium as the flags of the eight competing countries are displayed
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UUMVMEBO5RBHREEKAW55WVOA34.jpg?smart=true&auth=70bda277e0a4fadddaf23cae91b30468c4e2d6dde6c5546fba209d7b1350911b&width=400&height=225)
The bus outside Al Menaa Olympic Stadium in Basra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WZ2S6UC65VA4TNQQVIG36V7IDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=195531c7fc9832eea0bad953cd79295b38c8e5a2de75fd7d9016c4721f3f9d17&width=400&height=225)
Essam Jaafar Athab, a filmmaker and a professor at Basra’s Fine Arts College, spent nearly 60 million Iraqi dinars ($40,000) to rejuvenate the ageing bus
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S4I2TKMQK5FSXNA6E43B7WGZAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b537c7c5a07a2eb4ea8cb08570a2294e073f1e81f2f8468f11463e57a498311&width=400&height=225)
It's all to play for in January ... a copy of the Arabian Gulf Cup attached to the bus bonnet stands gleaming in the sunshine
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TAJXRUE45VDZVN5O245ZTCNY3U.jpg?smart=true&auth=db2ebf7ae14ece3a3d778d027bae074d5a76b64bbe52625094108ca6352cfa1e&width=400&height=225)
The Gulf Bus will hit the road in the next few days in a journey of peace and love from Basra where the Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament is due to take place in January. All photos: Essam Jaafar Athab
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LTGUOG64RBASRM2WN5ZZLRGJH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5bca2aef6f10d648d6541d0ea12c8b7dbf86ad802b052f7b00759f1b5c62b9a2&width=400&height=225)
The bus parks outside Basra Museum
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJMHEW73SRH23EN4T744UNN4YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7ba5b127633b68b06037c7dd6c4f3a9e389d9ea5ec9ac66ff741d1ec5fa9b27&width=400&height=225)
The wood-panelled buses were the main means of public transport in Basra for decades
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O7HG2NYO2VCI3D2XYMSJZSYI2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4224a778b75e657b073b5bfaa25d35f202bb35ea15e7e0f173aa46933a68640&width=400&height=225)
A Chevrolet agent in Iraq imported Chevy Apache vehicles in the 1950s that were later converted by local carpenters in Basra into buses by building wooden sidings
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EQRMER7LGFCDROF7I3IDFD32FY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a9db7c57fad1877e0986e5f1b3d1ad09c8f0ba614ce6d7b3bbfdbfffe92607d&width=400&height=225)
The bus will be driven by the last craftsman in Basra, Jassim Al Assmar, and visit Iraq’s 18 provinces before heading to the Gulf states to promote the eight-team tournament
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HXSKRWPVPZFDFCDBPEADJBLRUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=81dc22ca1b8708817360e1c7cf459c136b39b9b5d352ac97153c6770d38645be&width=400&height=225)
The seats are covered with flat-woven kilims prepared by Iraqi female farmers from the southern province of Samawa, with sayings such as 'You are welcome' and 'Our Gulf is one'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UKNGGXQJBBF5ZFA5YT52NWUD2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=8826aa68caf96416fd7d4bc36bbf5e32f626c2e0cb296c8a13556e9582633934&width=400&height=225)
The Gulf Bus outside Basra International Stadium as the flags of the eight competing countries are displayed
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UUMVMEBO5RBHREEKAW55WVOA34.jpg?smart=true&auth=70bda277e0a4fadddaf23cae91b30468c4e2d6dde6c5546fba209d7b1350911b&width=400&height=225)
The bus outside Al Menaa Olympic Stadium in Basra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WZ2S6UC65VA4TNQQVIG36V7IDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=195531c7fc9832eea0bad953cd79295b38c8e5a2de75fd7d9016c4721f3f9d17&width=400&height=225)
Essam Jaafar Athab, a filmmaker and a professor at Basra’s Fine Arts College, spent nearly 60 million Iraqi dinars ($40,000) to rejuvenate the ageing bus
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S4I2TKMQK5FSXNA6E43B7WGZAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b537c7c5a07a2eb4ea8cb08570a2294e073f1e81f2f8468f11463e57a498311&width=400&height=225)
It's all to play for in January ... a copy of the Arabian Gulf Cup attached to the bus bonnet stands gleaming in the sunshine