Construction Iraq plans to build one million houses in two years By Nadim Kawach March 13, 2025, 1:31 PM Alamy via Reuters Connect The government is keen to build homes to relieve the post-war housing crisis in Iraq Iraq seeks to end housing crisis Elections expected in October New units within 11 projects The Iraqi government has set an ambitious target to construct 1 million houses within the next two years to tackle a festering post-war housing crisis, according to an adviser to the prime minister quoted in local media. The government is facing elections in October. The new units would be built within 11 projects and involve the construction of new cities near the capital Baghdad and other Iraqi governorates, Hamoudi Al-Lami, an adviser to Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, the prime minister, told the El-Tashira news website. Five city projects were awarded during 2024 and six others are expected to be awarded shortly to local and foreign developers, he said. Besides housing, the new cities include the construction of schools, hospitals, power facilities, shopping centres and roads along with basic services, Al-Lami said. Iraq ramps up LNG import projects after US ends Iran waiver Middle East is top recipient of Chinese Belt and Road deals Iraq plans digital currency to replace paper notes The five projects awarded in 2024 include the 120,000-house Ali Al-Wardi City near Baghdad, to be built by Ora Developers, which is owned by Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris. Iraq, with a population of 45 million, has recently resorted to the private sector to build houses to alleviate budget burdens and avert fresh disputes similar to that with South Korea’s Hanwha, which is constructing Bismaya City near Baghdad. In 2023, Hanwha stopped working on the 100,000-house project on the grounds that the government had failed to pay its dues on time. It resumed work in late 2024 after the two sides reached an agreement on payment.
