Long-term fiscal health, a strengthened investment climate, and sustained improvements in the overall standard of living still depend on a rebound in global oil prices, the central government passing major policy reforms, and finishing the conflict with ISIL.

The Iraqi economy is facing severe and pressing challenges. The decline in oil prices in 2015 and 2016 and the ISIS insurgency have contributed to a sharp deterioration of economic activity and have rapidly increased the fiscal and current account deficits. 

As the war against the Islamic State (ISIL) rages without end in sight, the World Bank issued an emergency support loan of USD 1.2 billion to the Iraqi government in late December to boost government finances and avoid a potential collapse of the state. The full amount of the loan was to be made available in a single tranche by the end of 2015.

The Iraqi economy is facing severe and pressing challenges. The decline in oil prices and the financing needs associated with the ISIS insurgency have contributed to a sharp deterioration of economic activity, public finances and the balance of payments. 

A commentary on what will be rquired to restore Iraq to a healthy business environment

This site provides a list of current news items on business in Iraq

Iraq. Middle East & North Africa (developing only). Income level Upper …. Global Economic Prospects examines trends for the world economy and how they

War and the Iraqi Economy: A Case Study

This World Bank site provides a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Iraq. 

This World Bank site ranks Iraq with other countries of the world for ease of dioing business

This World Bank site provides a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Iraq. 

A guide to registering a business in Iraq from USAID

Foreign investors are entitled to invest on terms as favorable as those applicable to Iraqi investors. They may establish a private local company or open trade representation offices and branches in Iraq. There are no limits on the amount of foreign participation in newly formed or existing business entities. 

Baghdad Chamber of Commerce with links to sites for registering a business.

This page summarizes Doing Business 2016 data for Iraq. The first section presents the Ease of Doing Business rank (out of 189 economies) and the distance to frontier (DTF)** measure, overall and by topic. The second section summarizes the key indicators for each topic benchmarked against regional averages.

Iraqi law allows several types of corporate entities

Establishing a wholly foreign-owned business entity or subsidiary in Iraq.

Set up limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, branch office and representative office in Iraq.

The Corporate Tax Rate in Iraq stands at 15 percent. Corporate Tax Rate in Iraq averaged 15.00 percent from 2008 until 2016, reaching an all time high of 15.00 percent in 2009 and a record low of 15.00 percent in 2009.

In the long-term, the Iraq Corporate Tax Rate is projected to trend around 15.00 percent in 2020, according to our econometric models.

The Personal Income Tax Rate in Iraq stands at 15 percent. 

The personal income tax rate in Afghanistan is 15%

A sales tax of 300% is imposed on alcohol and tobacco (cigarettes), 15% on travel tickets, 15% on cars, and 20% on mobile recharge cards and internet. This is in addition to services rendered by deluxe and first class restaurants and hotels, which are subject to a 10% sales tax.

There is no VAT or GST in Iraq. There is an excise tax on certain luxury items and services

Iraq taxation per PWC.

In Iraq, the Corporate Income tax rate is a tax collected from companies. Its amount is based on the net income companies obtain while exercising their business activity, normally during one business year. The benchmark we use refers to the highest rate for Corporate Income. 

Below is a detailed summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions that a medium-size company must pay or withhold in a given year, as well as administrative burden in paying taxes.

In Iraq, the Personal Income Tax Rate is a tax collected from individuals and is imposed on different sources of income like labor, pensions, interest and dividends. The benchmark we use refers to the Top Marginal Tax Rate for individuals.

Iraq Ministry of Finance Tax Laws

Iraq visa and passport requirements & Embassy and Colsulate addresses. Full detail on passports, visas and entry requirements for Iraq, including types, costs

Visa requirements and information on application

This section explains the requirements for obtaining an entry visa to Iraq for individuals that are currently in the United States.

To enter Iraq, a passport valid for at least six months from the date a visa is issued is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs website with all visa requirements and types of visas.

Tips on getting to and getting around Iraq from real travelers and locals.

Guide on how to get around Iraq by Public Transport, Taxi and by Car. Important information such as which side of the road to drive

Telecom services is rising in Iraq through three telecom operators: Zain Iraq, Asia Cell and Korek Telecom. Zain caters to nearly 50% of telecom subscribers; Asia Cell, 32%; Korek, 18%. 

Iraq’s telecommunications infrastructure, never adequate, suffered considerable damage during the conflict. The lack of transparent policies and laws,
independent regulation, and adequate funding are also challenges to reconstructing the telecom
infrastructure.

Major cities, towns, and villages are connected by a modern network of highways and roads which have made old caravan routes extinct. The city of Baghdad has been reshaped by the development of expressways through the city and by passes built since the 1970s. By 2002, Iraq had 45,550 km (28,304 mi) of roads, of which 38,400 km (23,861 mi) were paved. There were some 1,422,032 cars and 332,026 commercial vehicles in use as of 2000.

Telecommunications in Iraq include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet as well as the postal system.

Tips on getting to and getting around Iraq from real travelers and locals.

Iraqi labor law does not impose an obligation on employers to employ a certain percentage of Iraqi nationals. Foreign investment law also imposes an obligation on foreign investors to train their Iraqi employees and to enhance their skills.

Full text of the Labor Code in Iraq

Below is a detailed summary of some of the labor regulations that would apply to local entrepreneurs wishing to hire workers, organize working schedules, improve job quality for workers, or make workers redundant for economic reasons in Iraq. 

Full text of the Labor Code in Iraq

Iraqi labor law does not impose an obligation on employers to employ a certain percentage of Iraqi nationals.

It measures the regulation of employment, specifically as they affect a local entrepreneur running a supermarket or grocery store operating in the economy’s largest business city (for 11 economies the data are also collected for the second largest business city) and employing 60 employees.

The purpose of this Code is to involve labor in the process of building the national economy so as to achieve prosperity and improve living conditions.

Employees of enterprises with three or more workers, including cooperative workers. Special systems for Kurdistan public-sector employees, employees of semi-governmental agencies including nationalized industries; lawyers, and journalists.

Adequacy of social insurance programs is measured by the total transfer amount received by the population participating in social insurance programs as a share of their total welfare.

Iraq, that once had one of the finest education systems in the world and approaching 100% literacy is struggling to recover from over a decade of violence when many schools were destroyed and many teachers became dead soldiers. 

Graphs & Analysis of Average Temperatures, Rainfall, Wet & Frosty Days, Sunlight Hours, Windspeed & Humidity.

U.S. citizens in Iraq are at high risk for kidnapping and terrorist violence. Anti-U.S. sectarian militias may threaten U.S. citizens and western companies throughout Iraq. 

Latest travel advice for Iraq including Safety and Security, Entry Requirements, Travel Warnings and Health.

Guide to Iraq and Iraqi culture, society, language, etiquette, customs, manners and protocol.

Guide to travel, doing business, and studying in Iraq – culture, greetings, gestures,etiquette, taboos, negotiations, gift-giving, and more.

Iraq has a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Iraq’s location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the Persian Gulf. 

Average prices of more than 40 products and services in Iraq. Prices of restaurants, food, transportation, utilities and housing are included.

Cost of living comparisons in more than 1,600 cities all over the world.

This list contains the most popular international and bilingual schools in Iraq, including nurseryschools, primary and secondary (high) schools

List of National and Public Holidays observed in Iraq during 2017

Iraq 2017 bank holidays and Iraq 2017 national holidays

See “People and Society” on this CIA site

This site discusses the demographic features of the population of Iraq, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Cost of living in Iraq is 31.19% lower than in United States (aggregate data for all cities, rent is not taken into account). Rent in Iraq is 54.90% lower

The Iraqi population includes a number of ethnic groups, about 77% of whom are Arabs, 19% Kurds, and the rest a variety of different groups, including Turkomens, Assyrians, and Armenians. 

In Iraq there are many customs that Americans would not consider as normal. When meeting new people in Iraq, it is important that you never offer your left hand in a hand shake.
Also, you must never point at a person with 1 finger. Pointing with 1 finger is offensive to Iraqi’s so instead you must point with all 5 fingers.

Iraq has a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Iraq’s location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the Persian Gulf.

Weather records have been kept in Iraq since the end of World War I. The country’s lack of rainfall allows Iraq to be classified as a desert, though the country has river deltas and mountainous regions. 

Iraq, that once had one of the finest education systems in the world and approaching 100% literacy is struggling to recover from over a decade of violence when many schools were destroyed and many teachers became dead soldiers.

Travel within Iraq remains very dangerous given the security situation.  The ability of the Embassy to assist U.S. citizens facing difficulty, including arrest, is extremely limited.

Travel information for Iraq.

In Iraq, public holidays are referred to as national holidays. In addition to national holidays, several regional observances are honored based on Islamic religious tradition and culture. National holidays include New Year’s Day; the Prophet’s Birthday; Army Day and Republic Day.

Iraq demographics.

Iraq Demographics. Almost 75% of Iraq’s population is made up of the dominant ethnic group — the Iraqi or Mesopotamian Arabs.

Iraqi Education is strictly controlled by the national Iraqi government, through the Iraqi Ministry of Education. This public state education is provided free, from Primary School, all the way to Doctoral degrees.

Holidays and observances in Iraq in 2016

Iraq Customs regulations and procedures for importing and exporting goods at border

A guide for British businesses who are interested in developing their overseas trade and doing business in Iraq, including the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

Private Sector both face a shortage of skilled labour and

A report on the staus of Iraq’s efforts to join the WTO

The EU’s trade relations with Iraq are governed by the EU-Iraq Partnership and CooperationAgreement, which is the first contractual relation between two partners.

Iraqi Trade Information Center; Commercial Training Department; Investment … the latest developments in the field of laws, rules and regulations related to trade

The EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement marks the first ever contractual relation between the EU and Iraq.

1,733 traveler reviews, candid photos, and prices for 120hotels in Iraq.

This site has hotel listings in each of Afghanistan’s major cities

Iraq property /real estate for sale listings

find an apartment for rent in Iraq | search and find apartments and homes for rent by owner in Iraq | directory of houses for rent and apartment rentals

U.S. citizens in Iraq are at high risk for kidnapping and terrorist violence. Anti-U.S. sectarian militias may threaten U.S. citizens and western companies throughout Iraq. Kidnappings and attacks by improvised explosive devices (IED) occur frequently in many areas of the country

Expert Iraq travel guide including detailed information about everything you need to know about Iraq. 

Iraq is the birthplace of many of the Earth’s oldest civilizations, including the Babylonians and the Assyrians. A part of the Ottoman Empire from 1534, the Treaty of Sèvres brought the area under British control in 1918. Iraq gained independence in 1932.