The Board of Directors of the Center for Banking Studies discusses activating
Within the framework of the strategic role played by the Central Bank of Iraq in building human and institutional capacities and supporting sustainable banking reform paths, the Banking Studies Center discussed what was accomplished in its 2025 training plan. The Director General of the Center, Dr. Mustafa Munir, explained that the training plan was implemented according to a contemporary strategic vision, in line with the requirements of compliance with FATF standards, Basel III regulations and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and under the direct supervision of the senior management of the Central Bank of Iraq, with the aim of transforming the Center into a strategic performance lever supporting banking reform and the development of its human resources.
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It was stated during the meeting that the implementation rate of the aforementioned plan reached about 98%, which included three main axes represented by internationally accredited professional certificates, short specialized courses, and specialized workshops, with broad participation from employees of banks and governmental and private financial institutions.In the context of strengthening international cooperation, the Center activated cooperation frameworks with a number of reputable regional and international institutes and training institutions, including the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, the Egyptian and Jordanian Institutes of Banking Studies, the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), Frankfurt University, and international institutions specializing in compliance, risk management, auditing, and information systems.
Furthermore, during 2025, the Center implemented 12 specialized training programs leading to international professional certifications in the areas of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, risk management, corporate governance, and banking compliance. In addition, it conducted 45 specialized workshops on topics related to financial crimes, international sanctions, digital transformation, and cybersecurity.These efforts are in line with the legal framework governing the work of the Banking Studies Center and its role in addressing the challenges of compliance with FATF, Basel and IFRS requirements, thereby enhancing the governance of the banking sector and improving the readiness of Iraqi banks to integrate into the international financial system.Central Bank of Iraq,
Media Office,
January 20, 2026
The Central Bank is participating in the training of 100 young people as part of the Youth Financial Literacy Program.
Media Office,
January 18, 2026
To showcase financial services, the Central Bank is launching a campaign in Qurna on Thursday and Friday.
Under the patronage of the Central Bank of Iraq
In cooperation with the Al-Qurna Municipality Directorate and with the participation of the banking sector and electronic payment companies, we invite you to attend and participate in the events of
The "Pulse of Financial Services in Our Parks" Campaign
Featuring presentations of financial services and products, account opening, distribution of electronic payment cards, and other free services.
On Thursday and Friday, January 22nd and 23rd, 2026
At Al-Umma Park
In the evening
Sudanese: We have unanimously decided on the arms control law and are now studying the implementation mechanism.
European ambassadors were informed of this.
During his meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union countries accredited to Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani affirmed that the principle of restricting weapons to the state enjoys national consensus and has become acceptable and universally accepted. He pointed out that the discussion now revolves around the timing and implementation mechanism, noting at the same time that Iraq has made great strides in its relationship with the international coalition and has taken full control of the Ain Al-Asad base. He also noted that the number of coalition advisors in Baghdad has been significantly reduced, and concluded by saying that the mission at the Harir base in Erbil will be completely completed in September 2026.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani received the ambassadors of the European Union countries accredited to Iraq on Tuesday.
His Excellency affirmed that the 2025 elections represented a pivotal event in the history of the political process in Iraq, due to the integrity and smoothness of their conduct, and the extent of active participation, which indicated the return of some of the people’s confidence in the political process and the democratic system based on the peaceful transfer of power.
Mr. Al-Sudani explained that the government has carried out important structural reforms in various sectors over the past three years, and has been able to attract Arab and foreign investments and provide an attractive environment for the work of the local and foreign private sector.
His Excellency stated that the principle of restricting weapons to the state enjoys national consensus and has become acceptable and universally accepted, and the discussion now revolves around the timing and mechanism, which represents a clear positive development.
The following are the most important points from the Prime Minister's speech:
The world is living in a state of instability and there has been an erosion of the international order based on laws and rules since World War II.
The return of the logic of force and wars and the imposition of one party’s will on others is very dangerous, and we are witnessing it today on a wide scale in more than one place.
The current internal and regional challenges call for the formation of a strong government capable of making decisions free from any internal or external dictates.
The priority now is to prevent institutional decline in this complex regional and international situation.
The Reconstruction and Development Coalition will be a key player in the political landscape of the next phase, given the popular mandate it has received.
We have contact with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US administration in order to find a dialogue platform in Baghdad between Washington and Tehran.
We have come a long way in our relationship with the international coalition and have taken full control of Ain al-Asad base. We have significantly reduced the number of coalition advisors in Baghdad, and the mission at Harir base in Erbil will be fully completed in September 2026.
Iraq will remain an active partner in the international coalition to fight ISIS, and our coordination in the fight against ISIS continues.
Syria is experiencing an unstable situation, and we are concerned about the growing presence of ISIS elements and other extremist groups currently inside prisons.
We stressed the importance of a transparent and inclusive political process in Syria, and concrete steps and procedures to reassure all Syrian components by rejecting terrorism and extremism and respecting human rights.
Iraq views Syria and its stability as a top national and regional priority.
A stable and unified Syria in which all its components coexist peacefully is a fundamental guarantee for the security of the region.
Iraqi society is cohesive, our security forces are ready and capable of enforcing security, and our borders are secure.
We took border security measures two years ago based on an advanced reading of events in Syria.
Security in Syria requires collective responsibility and genuine international cooperation.
Our position is firm in demanding an immediate end to the bloodshed in Gaza, a halt to the violations in Lebanon, and an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Iraq discusses with the World Bank ways to enhance transparency and combat corruption
The head of the Integrity Commission, Mohammed Al-Lami, discussed with a delegation from the World Bank mission in Iraq on Tuesday ways to enhance transparency standards in contracts and projects funded by the World Bank, stressing Iraq’s openness and its joining all international and regional initiatives aimed at confronting and reducing corruption. The delegation expressed the mission’s desire to conclude a memorandum of understanding with the commission in a way that contributes to strengthening the integrity system and good governance.
The Integrity Commission stated in a statement received by Network 964 that “the head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Dr. (Mohammed Ali Al-Lami), met with a delegation from the World Bank mission in Iraq to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation in the areas of integrity, transparency and combating corruption, especially in contracts and national projects funded by the Bank.”
The statement added that “Dr. Al-Lami affirmed, during his meeting with Mr. Alan Bacaris, Director of the Integrity Unit at the World Bank, and Mr. Emmanuel Salinas, Special Representative of the World Bank Mission in Iraq and their accompanying delegation, that Iraq welcomes all international and regional initiatives aimed at confronting corruption and reducing its avenues and has taken the initiative to join them,” praising “the areas of cooperation with the World Bank Mission, especially in the field of promoting transparency and preventing and combating corruption.”
For his part, Alan Bacaris, Director of the Integrity Unit at the World Bank, and his accompanying delegation, expressed “his mission’s desire to conclude a memorandum of understanding with the Commission,” praising “the Commission’s steps in the programs implemented by the Iraqi Academy for Combating Corruption, and the benefit to international bodies from the Academy’s experience, commending the endeavor to automate and digitize anti-corruption procedures.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, the head of the commission stressed “the importance of preparing the final draft of the memorandum of understanding and concluding it between the two parties, noting the technical support provided by international organizations, including the World Bank mission and the UNDP, which contributes to strengthening the integrity and good governance system and supports national efforts aimed at preventing and combating corruption in accordance with best international practices,” pointing out that “one of the commission’s main objectives is to prevent corruption before it occurs and to support investors and protect them from extortion.”
Iraq attracts investments exceeding $100 billion in 3 years
The National Investment Commission announced on Tuesday that it had achieved investment accomplishments exceeding $100 billion in Iraq during the past three years, noting that it had dealt with more than 850 investment requests for various projects during the past year .
The spokesperson for the authority, Hanan Jassim, said in a statement to the official agency, which was followed by the “Al-Sa’a” network, that “the volume of investments achieved during the past three years amounted to more than 102 billion US dollars, in an indication of rising investor confidence, which paves the way for achieving higher figures during 2026. ”
She noted that “during 2025, the Authority dealt with more than 850 investment applications for various projects in the energy, housing, health, education, transportation, and services sectors, which were audited and studied in accordance with the provisions of the applicable investment law and in coordination with the relevant sectoral authorities to obtain the necessary approvals .”
She explained that "the Authority issued and amended about 40 investment licenses for strategic projects that included power generation stations, smart electricity billing projects in Baghdad and a number of governorates, residential complexes, commercial centers, airports, and service projects, in addition to participating in about 30 joint technical and legal committees to address obstacles and expedite the completion of transactions
What message did Trump and Savaya send after Saddam Hussein mediated their meeting?
On a bleak morning in the 1990s, an Iraqi woman woke up with one worry: what would she sell to feed her children? Her husband's salary, as a government employee, had shrunk due to the currency collapse to the equivalent of about one dollar a month—not enough to buy a bag of milk or a box of medicine.
Gathering what remains of her "life's necessities": a blanket she kept from her wedding trousseau, an embroidered tablecloth, an old wall clock, kitchen utensils that were carried with love, not for consumption, she spreads them out on the ground in a market crowded with secondhand goods vendors. She stands there, not as a professional trader, but as a mother trying to translate her dignity into a loaf of bread.
In another corner of the city, a father with a university degree, an artist, a journalist, or a schoolteacher, also spreads his wares on the ground, selling vegetables, eggs, or single cigarettes. Many have abandoned their teaching positions and cultural platforms, joining the ranks of "families afflicted by the siege." Job opportunities are virtually nonexistent, medicine is scarce, and the ration card is the only lifeline dangling from the neck of a besieged nation, distributed in insufficient quantities that leave no one truly satisfied or healthy.
These stories were not dramatic exaggerations, but rather part of a broader picture linking the comprehensive sanctions regime imposed on Iraq after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait to the devastating collapse of household incomes, the decline of basic services, rising malnutrition rates, and the deterioration of the healthcare system. Despite the debate surrounding the precise number of child victims of the sanctions, most testimonies and UN reports agree on one fact: the sanctions transformed Iraqis into a society that sold their personal belongings to survive, and turned the economy of an entire country into a laboratory for a policy of "controlled starvation" in the name of international law.
Today, more than two decades after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the specter of those years resurfaces in a single image: an old Iraqi 5-dinar banknote bearing Saddam's image appeared on Donald Trump's desk during his meeting with his special envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya. Savaya himself posted the photo, writing that it was "a great day with the greatest," prompting questions across Iraq: What was a currency from the sanctions era doing on the desk of the man who was threatening new sanctions?
From a vague image to a painful memory
No official explanation was given for placing the currency on the table, nor was it clarified whether it was part of a "war memento," a "symbolic gift," or a deliberate political gesture. But the gap in explanation was filled on social media: thousands of comments linked the currency to memories of long queues for oil and sugar, to Savaya's recent statements about "upcoming sanctions against malicious actors and networks" in Iraq, and to a growing fear that the country might once again become a testing ground for economic pressure tactics.
For a generation that lived through the 1990s, the banknote was not merely a picture of a former ruler, but a symbol of a salary that dwindled month after month, a currency that lost its value to the point where employees received their paychecks in bags of dinars that could buy only a few kilograms of food. Therefore, many did not interpret the image as a mere formality, but as a stark reminder of a time when children died from lack of medicine, and professors sold their personal books on the sidewalks.
Savaya: Sanctions Envoy and the "Malicious Networks" File
The image of the old dinar comes at a highly sensitive political and financial moment. Mark Savaya, the American businessman of Iraqi origin, whom Trump appointed as special envoy to Iraq, did not come to Baghdad as just a new diplomatic face, but as the bearer of a dual agenda: restructuring the political relationship and tightening control over Iraqi finances.
Over the past few days, Savaya spoke of holding a series of meetings with the US Treasury Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to agree on a comprehensive review of payment records and financial transactions linked to Iraqi institutions, companies, and individuals suspected of involvement in smuggling, money laundering, and sham contracts that finance terrorist activities or illicit networks of influence. He confirmed that the discussions included "next steps related to anticipated sanctions targeting malicious entities and networks that undermine the integrity of the financial system and state authority in Iraq," without disclosing names.
In other remarks, Savaya stressed that the Trump administration "will not tolerate Iraq's economy remaining hostage to smuggling and financing networks belonging to outlaw actors at home and abroad," and that Washington is prepared to use "treasury tools" as much as it uses "pengin tools" to reset the balance of power within the country.
In this sense, the promised sanctions of tomorrow are no longer limited to armed factions or political figures only, but their language has extended to “banks, companies, economic fronts, and money laundering networks”, that is, to the heart of the structure over which the state and society move together.
From total blockade to targeted sanctions: the tool has changed, but has the goal changed?
In the 1990s, the picture was both clear and harsh: Security Council resolutions, driven by the US and Britain, imposed a comprehensive embargo on Iraqi oil exports, restricted imports, and stifled the country's dealings with the global financial system. The "oil-for-food" program later emerged as the almost sole mechanism for the flow of resources, under UN supervision, but these resources were barely enough to keep the country running at a "slow speed" and at a heavy social cost.
After 2003, the picture changed. Washington no longer needed to impose a nationwide blockade. The focus shifted to a new type of sanctions targeting specific individuals, entities, and institutions: faction leaders, businessmen, companies accused of financing Iranian allies or extremist organizations, and banks suspected of involvement in dollar smuggling. The introduction of the Global Magnitsky Act broadened the scope of these sanctions, allowing for the punishment of officials and politicians for corruption or human rights violations, not just on the basis of a perceived "security threat."
In recent years, the US Treasury has become a direct player in the details of the Iraqi market. More than twenty private banks were prevented from accessing dollars under the pretext of weak compliance or suspicion of currency smuggling, and airlines, investment and service companies were placed on sanctions lists on charges of working within Iranian or factional financing networks, so that something like a "partial mobile siege" appeared: not on the state as a whole, but on its sensitive financial nerves.
Although this policy is presented as an attempt to improve banking compliance and protect the financial system from exploitation, its impact on the average citizen remains very close to the impact of the old embargo, albeit with different tools: fluctuations in the exchange rate, delays in transfers, a rise in the cost of imports, and an expansion of the “shadow economy” that sells dollars in back alleys far from the central bank’s window.
When Saddam's dinar meets the rhetoric of "malicious entities"
In this tense context, it is difficult for Iraqi public opinion to view Saddam's dinar on Trump's table as an innocent piece of "nostalgia." Every element in the image carries a layer of meaning:
The US president is the one who now has the power to tighten or loosen sanctions through the Treasury Department and executive orders that could expand or tighten the noose on Iraqi banks, companies and figures within days.
The envoy standing next to him is the one who has been talking for weeks about reviewing “suspicious payment records” and “malicious networks” that will be targeted by the upcoming sanctions, without mentioning names, contenting himself with a generalization that increases the anxiety of everyone who gets close to the circle of suspicion.
The currency displayed before them dates back to an era when the economic embargo meant that the lives of Iraqis became a daily search for a bag of flour and a box of medicine.
From this arise two fundamental interpretations of the image in the Iraqi imagination:
1. Reading “Hegemony”: Saddam’s dinar before Trump is a silent reminder that a currency that was once a symbol of a nation’s sovereignty can become a mere souvenir on the desk of a man in another country, whose fate—and the fate of its new currency—is decided by the Treasury Department. The message is clear: “Your financial destiny was, and still is, written in offices outside Baghdad.”
2. Reading the “veiled threat”: The timing of the image with talk of “sanctions against malicious entities” makes many see it as an implication that those who do not abide by the new rules of the game could find themselves in a situation similar to what happened in the nineties, albeit in a targeted form: not a comprehensive international embargo, but a gradual strangulation of the networks of money and influence that control the state.
Between these two interpretations, the Iraqi public adds a third layer: the layer of pain. The image was quickly linked to the phrase "the death of a million children," which became synonymous in the public consciousness with the years of sanctions, regardless of the accuracy of the figures. What matters here is not the number itself, but the feeling that the world knew the human cost of the political conflict, yet still pursued it to the end.
"Malignant" sanctions or a reset of the power equation?
Thus, the upcoming sanctions appear to be part of a longer series:
-Preventing banks from accessing dollars under the pretext of currency smuggling and money laundering.
-Including transport, investment and government contracting companies on sanctions lists on charges of financing armed factions or circumventing the ceilings imposed on Iran.
-Moving to a broader level today: reviewing "suspicious payment records" linked to both state institutions and the private sector, while threatening personal sanctions against officials, politicians, and businessmen.
The stated objective, according to the American narrative, is "to protect the integrity of the Iraqi financial system and prevent its use as a conduit for financing terrorism or illicit networks of influence." However, the unstated objective, as many observers see it, is to redraw the power map within Iraq by targeting the financial resources of factions and forces closest to Tehran, and to compel the political class to reconsider its calculations in forming the next government and distributing key positions within the state.
In this game, the citizen is once again turned into a "hostage" between the hammer of Washington and the anvil of the factions: any further tightening of transfers and sanctions means more pressure on the market, and in return, any insistence by the affected forces on circumventing the restrictions means expanding the shadow economy and shifting the cost to the exchange rate, unemployment, and high prices.
Is the blockade really coming back?
The question many are asking today, as they contemplate the image of Saddam Hussein's dinar on Trump's desk, is: Are we facing a de facto return to a comprehensive embargo? The straightforward answer, based on current information, is that Iraq is not, as yet, facing a scenario of a comprehensive international embargo like the one it experienced in the 1990s. There are no Security Council resolutions to re-freeze oil exports, nor is there any public talk of completely isolating the country from the global financial system.
But on the other hand, something no less dangerous in the long term is emerging on the horizon: a sanctions policy focused on "financial arteries" that could gradually move from specific banks and factions to a broader structure, if the conflict over the form of the state and Iraq's position between Washington and Tehran continues without a settlement prospect.
In this atmosphere, the image becomes more than just a protocol snapshot:
-It is a reminder that whoever owns the dollar can conjure up the specter of a siege whenever they want, even if they change its name to "sanctions against malicious actors".
It is also a test of the ability of the Iraqi political class to say, clearly, that protecting the financial system and preventing money laundering does not mean turning the country into a bargaining arena between the influence of the factions and the whims of the White House.
Between the woman who sold her bedsheets in the 1990s to buy food, and the old dinar that now sits on Trump's table, lies the story of a country that has yet to emerge from the shadow of sanctions, despite the changing faces and tools. The only difference is that Iraqis now see the picture directly on their phones, and feel that the decision of whether to sell their furniture again is being made in a closed meeting, around a small table, between two men, with a banknote beside them bearing the face of a past that has not yet died.
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The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's representation in Baghdad attends an emergency security meeting chaired by al-Sudani
The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's representation in Baghdad, Fares Issa, attended on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the emergency security meeting held under the chairmanship of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to discuss the security challenges facing the region.
The meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and the Chief of Staff of the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region, along with a number of military and security leaders in the federal government and heads of security agencies, discussed the security and military situation in the border areas with Syria, and ways to strengthen defensive positions on the Iraqi border.
For its part, the Kurdistan Region delegation affirmed the readiness of the Peshmerga forces in the region to control and secure the border areas of the Kurdistan Region with Syria.
Trump's first year in Iraq: Military withdrawal, economic pressure, and crackdown on factions
The New World
A year after US President Donald Trump took office, Iraq appeared in Washington’s policies within multiple approaches based on managing files rather than direct engagement, such as completing the withdrawal of the international coalition with tightening financial control, and linking security cooperation to the files of weapons and stability, in a context that redefined the relationship between the two sides during the past period.
On January 20, 2025, which was yesterday, Tuesday, Trump was sworn in as President of the United States, following his victory in the presidential elections, returning to the White House at a complex regional and international stage.
Political researcher Mohammed Naanaa told Al-Alam Al-Jadeed that “the first characteristic of Trump’s rule was the series of surprises and shocks he caused in a number of international and regional issues, including the support he provided to the new Syrian regime, the shocking handling of the Venezuela issue and the arrest of Maduro, as well as the blow that was directed at Iran, and the state of fluctuation in positions.”
Regarding Iraq, Naanaa explains that “Trump’s policy this year has produced three main tracks. The first is replacing the traditional diplomatic representation, represented by a permanent ambassador, with the special envoy format, which indicates that Iraq is still viewed in Washington as a crisis arena. The second track is an attempt to neutralize Iranian influence within Iraq, and this file has witnessed relative progress.”
Naanaa points to “the high and continuous pressure on the armed factions, which has taken on clear security and military dimensions, reflected in the cessation of attacks on American bases and interests, and the absence of these factions’ participation in any regional security or military escalation during the recent period.”
On a practical level, the completion of the withdrawal of the international coalition to fight ISIS from Iraqi territory constituted a pivotal moment in the security relationship between Baghdad and Washington, after years of political and public debate about the nature of the foreign presence.
In parallel with that, the issue of armed factions witnessed remarkable developments during the year of Donald Trump’s administration, represented by the escalation of American political and security pressures, along with direct and indirect messages confirming the need to confine weapons to the hands of the state. During the past months, positions and statements were issued by some factions and influential political forces, in which they expressed their agreement to the principle of disarmament or reorganization within official frameworks.
Security researcher Sarmad Al-Bayati told Al-Alam Al-Jadeed that “the practical aspect of the Trump administration’s policy towards Iraq during its first year was clearly reflected in the security track, especially with regard to the file of the American military presence and the armed factions,” noting that “the continuation of work on the agreements for the withdrawal of the international coalition is one of the main goals that the Iraqi government sought to achieve, and it has already been accomplished with the completion of the combat withdrawal.”
Al-Bayati believes that “the Trump administration left a clear mark on this issue, whether through proceeding with the implementation of security agreements, or through moving to non-military pressure tools, as well as the media discourse and repeated statements, whether through the tweets of the American envoy or through direct political messages, the gist of which is that the issue of the factions must reach clear conclusions, and that the issue of restricting weapons is no longer subject to postponement or formal treatment.”
It is likely that “this issue will witness a greater escalation if the tension with Iran is contained or resolved, as it is expected that American pressure will shift towards the Iraqi interior in a more direct and clear manner during the next stage.”
“The New World” had previously addressed in a report the rapid transformations in the file of disarming Iraqi factions, in light of its transition from an undeclared security framework to an open political track, highlighting the divergence of the factions’ positions between conditional acceptance and outright rejection, the role of American and regional pressures in pushing this file to the forefront, as well as the nature of the Iranian position on these developments, in addition to the repercussions of the recent election results on the behavior of the factions and their position within the equation for forming the next government.
A "busy" economic path
Economically, expanding the scope of US sanctions was one of the most prominent milestones in the Trump administration’s policy towards Iraq during its first year, as the US Treasury Department focused on targeting financing networks linked to armed factions and figures and entities accused of facilitating circumvention of sanctions imposed on Iran.
These measures included placing exchange companies, money transfer networks, and individuals on sanctions lists, freezing their assets, and preventing them from dealing in dollars and the international financial system, as part of efforts to cut off informal financing routes within Iraq.
In parallel, Washington intensified its pressure on the Iraqi financial system through strict oversight measures targeting the dollar and foreign trade financing. The US Treasury imposed broad audits on foreign transfers and the records of government and private banks, as well as electronic payment and import financing companies, with the aim of tracking the sources of funds and their final destination.
Economic researcher Duraid Al-Anzi told Al-Alam Al-Jadeed that “the frequency of statements by US envoy Mark Savaya during the first year of the Trump administration, especially those related to the economic file, indicates the nature of American priorities towards Iraq at this stage.”
Al-Anzi points out that “most of these statements focused on specific issues, including the work of companies, the money laundering file, and the conditions of banks, which indicates that the American focus is directed towards structural corruption files more than any paths of appeasement or temporary political understandings, considering that this trend represents the essence of the current American approach.”
He continues, “The United States is dealing with these files from a technical and procedural angle, by studying the issues and financial ties, auditing the activities of companies, and tracking the routes of money laundering,” explaining that “this approach, despite its complexity, may be more beneficial to Iraq if it is accompanied by decisive measures, and not just long-term reviews.”
The relationship between the two sides has been marked by repeated accusations of the existence of networks that exploit the currency sales window and border crossings to smuggle hard currency out of the country, which has led Washington to link the stability of the Iraqi financial system to the extent of Baghdad’s commitment to compliance and financial transparency standards.
The Sudanese government directs the preparation of detailed reports on the size and costs of projects from 2005 until
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed the Ministry of Planning on Tuesday to prepare detailed reports outlining the size and cost of projects included and funded from the general budget or loans for each ministry or entity from 2005 to 2025, with the results to be presented to the Cabinet.
Iraqi Securities Commission announces the registration of two Iraqi brokerage firms as foreign brokers with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
Iraqi Securities Commission announced that Al-Rabea Financial Brokerage Company and Al-Karmel Financial Brokerage Company have obtained the final approvals for registration and operation as remote foreign brokers at the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, within the framework of the Tabadul platform.
The Commission stated that both companies have also completed the registration procedures with the Securities and Commodities Authority of the United Arab Emirates, in accordance with the approved legal and regulatory frameworks, enabling them to carry out cross-border brokerage activities.
The Commission emphasized that this step represents an important development in strengthening integration among regional financial markets, expanding investment opportunities, and supporting the openness of the Iraqi market to Arab and global markets in line with the Commission directions to develop and enhance the efficiency of the securities sector.
eYouth Expands to Iraq, Launches First Arabic-Language Digital Learning Platform
The partnership marks a significant milestone in supporting workforce readiness in Iraq by delivering high-quality training programs aligned with the needs of key economic sectors and designed to respond to the evolving demands of the local labor market.
EYouth, the Egyptian-founded regional edtech company and one of the leading digital learning platforms in the Middle East and Africa, announced its expansion into the Iraqi market through the launch of eYouth Iraq and the introduction of the first Arabic-language digital learning platform in Iraq dedicated to developing skills aligned with labor market needs. The expansion comes through a strategic partnership with Al-Majal Group, one of Iraq’s leading private sector groups.
Founded in Egypt in 2016, eYouth has grown into a regional leader in Edtech, providing accessible, high-quality, and customized learning solutions. The company has successfully expanded across the region, particularly into KSA and UAE, reaching more than 4 million learners across 21 countries.
The partnership marks a significant milestone in supporting workforce readiness in Iraq by delivering high-quality training programs aligned with the needs of key economic sectors and designed to respond to the evolving demands of the local labor market. The platform will focus on high-demand skills across priority sectors, supporting Iraqi youth, fresh graduates, and experienced professionals seeking to upskill and maintain their competitiveness in a rapidly changing economy.
Through this collaboration, eYouth will leverage its extensive experience in digital learning, workforce training, and professional development, while Al-Majal Group will contribute its deep understanding of the Iraqi market and its strong network across the private sector. In parallel, eYouth Iraq will work closely with relevant government entities, ministries, and public institutions, in addition to private-sector employers, to ensure strong alignment between training programs, national development priorities, and real labor market needs.
The platform will deliver Arabic-first educational content, developed in line with international quality standards, ensuring accessibility while adhering to global best practices in curriculum design, digital delivery, and learning outcomes. Beyond technical and professional skills, the initiative will place strong emphasis on employability, practical application, and direct alignment with employer demand.
“Establishing eYouth Iraq is a strategic step toward building a sustainable talent development ecosystem in the country. Our goal is to work hand in hand with government institutions and private-sector partners to ensure that education is directly connected to real labor market needs. This platform will empower Iraqi youth with practical, future-ready skills and open new pathways to meaningful employment and active economic participation.”
– Engineer Mustafa Abd Ellatif, Co-Founder and CEO, eYouth
“Developing human capital is a cornerstone of Iraq’s long-term growth and economic resilience. This partnership with eYouth reflects our commitment to supporting Iraqi youth through accessible, high-quality education that responds to the real needs of employers. By collaborating with both public and private stakeholders, we aim to create sustainable value for individuals, businesses, and the national economy.”
– Ali Agha Jaffar, Chairman and CEO, Al-Majal Group
The initiative also supports broader efforts to strengthen local talent pipelines, enhance private-sector competitiveness, and contribute to Iraq’s economic and social development through modern, scalable education solutions.
The platform is expected to launch in phases throughout 2026, with programs gradually expanding across multiple sectors and regions within Iraq
Investment in Iraq: Efforts to attract quality projects and meet development requirements
While the volume of investments achieved in Iraq has reached more than (102) billion US dollars during 3 years, efforts continue to attract quality projects that contribute to achieving the requirements of the national development plan.
While noting that it dealt with more than (850) investment requests for various projects during the past year, the National Investment Commission announced on Tuesday that it had achieved strategic accomplishments during 2025 that contributed to strengthening the investment environment in Iraq.
National Investment Commission of Iraq
The spokesperson for the commission, Hanan Jassim, said in a press statement : “The National Investment Commission concluded the year 2025 by achieving a set of qualitative and strategic accomplishments that reflected its commitment to developing the investment environment in Iraq and stimulating local and foreign investments, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, the government program and the national development plan.”
She added that “the volume of investments achieved during the past three years amounted to more than (102) billion US dollars, in a clear indication of rising investor confidence, and paving the way for achieving higher figures during 2026.”
She noted that “during 2025, the Authority dealt with more than (850) investment requests for various projects in the energy, housing, health, education, transportation, and services sectors, which were audited and studied in accordance with the provisions of the applicable investment law and in coordination with the relevant sectoral authorities to obtain the necessary approvals.”
Investment licenses
She explained that “these efforts contributed to the issuance and amendment of about (40) investment licenses for strategic projects that included power generation stations, smart electricity collection projects in Baghdad and a number of governorates, residential complexes, commercial centers, airports, and service projects, as well as participation in about (30) joint technical and legal committees to address obstacles and expedite the completion of transactions.”
In the context of enhancing governance and transparency, it stated that “the Authority activated the electronic single window system and adopted the electronic portal for investment licenses, in addition to launching the electronic inquiries program in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, which enabled investors and citizens to follow up on their requests through the government services portal, and contributed to reducing time and effort and improving the level of service.”
She pointed out that “on the legal level, the year 2025 witnessed the signing of important investment contracts, most notably the Basra (2) project contract with Daiko International Holding Company, in addition to a contract for a fully serviced vertical residential investment project with a hotel of international specifications and brand for the benefit of Al-Ramla Investment and Real Estate Development Company. The year also witnessed the signing of a joint cooperation memorandum between the Authority and the alliance of Mapitexfertas American Company and Al-Abir Company for Infrastructure Services and Investments, as well as the preparation of a draft contract to establish a power generation station from waste using high-efficiency complete combustion technology, in addition to issuing Investment Instructions No. (2) of 2024 amended, and forming specialized committees to prepare and study regulatory controls, unify legal procedures with investment authorities in the governorates, and follow up on the implementation of the National Agreement for Integrity and Combating Corruption.”
National Investment Map
She explained that “on the economic side, the Authority completed the National Investment Map for 2025 and circulated it to the ministries, sectoral bodies and investment authorities in the governorates. It also organized the first session of the (Iraq Investment Forum) under the patronage of the Prime Minister, and in cooperation with the Iraqi Economic Council, where more than (100) investment opportunities were presented in the sectors of energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and heavy industries, housing and real estate development, agriculture, health, tourism, transportation and communications.”
She explained that “the Authority’s work included evaluating and studying (77) investment projects, in addition to preparing financing plans for investment projects in coordination with the Central Bank of Iraq and relevant authorities, and identifying quality investment opportunities in the infrastructure and basic services sectors in order to achieve sustainable development goals,” adding that “the Authority, through its relevant departments, promoted more than (5000) transactions related to multiple entry visas and visits, reflecting its pivotal role in facilitating procedures for investors and supporting the business environment in Iraq, in addition to activating institutional communication with the media, the public and investors, which contributed to enhancing confidence in the national investment environment.”
international openness
She added that “in terms of international openness, the Authority organized specialized workshops in cooperation with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the World Trade Organization, discussed the requirements for joining the Investment Facilitation Agreement, held diplomatic meetings with ambassadors of major countries to enhance economic cooperation, and continued its partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), as well as participating in negotiations on investment protection and promotion agreements,” stressing that “these achievements represent a fundamental pillar in the path of building a safe, transparent and attractive investment environment.”
She stressed “the continuation of its efforts during the next phase to attract quality investments that contribute to supporting economic growth, creating job opportunities and meeting the requirements of the government program and the national development plan.”
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