POLITICAL STABILITY: Iraq is experiencing an unusual period of relative calm domestically after almost two decades of turmoil, characterised by a notable decrease in political violence and the formation of a comparatively cohesive government led by the prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in October 2022. With support from a majority of parliamentary factions led by the
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The 750-mile Development Road project is primarily devised for trade but could soon take passengers, claims the country's new prime minister Passengers in Baghdad prepare to board a train to Basra, the only passenger rail service currently operational in Iraq CREDIT: NYTNS It sounds like a scene plucked from the pages of an old romance novel: hop on a
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Majd Zaghir As highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Iraq ranks as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, with factors such as decreased water and food availability, extreme temperatures, and intensified droughts affecting its ecosystems and farmers. These changes in climate patterns have significant consequences for agriculture produc
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After eight months in office, the Iraqi prime minister can point to a period of calm, increased foreign investment and a building boom in Baghdad as signs that his country is moving in the right direction. Onlookers are concerned, however, at the disproportionate economic influence of Iran and the government’s lackluster effort to stem corruption. BY ARAB DIGEST
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Iraq’s economy is overwhelmingly dominated by the oil sector. According to the World Bank, over the last decade oil revenues have accounted for more than 99% of exports, 85% of the government’s budget, and 42% of GDP. Despite the strong rebound of the economy after the pandemic thanks largely to high oil prices and increased export volumes that last year drove oil revenues
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