Iraq Projects

[vc15nets]

$2bn Baghdad airport renovation

A $2bn re-build of Baghdad International Airport will start in March, Iraq Civil Aviation Authority D-G Dr Adnan Blebil told Gulf News. Three new terminals will be added to lift capacity to 7.5m passengers a year by 2010. Blebil said Iraq is aiming to sign air service agreements soon with Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran, with talks ongoing with other countries.

[Riyadhi]

$ 2 billion is alot of money. Great for Baghadad but I think there are more important things to spend money on before an airport renovation.

[Citystyle]

$ 2 billion is alot of money. Great for Baghadad but I think there are more important things to spend money on before an airport renovation.
Ill go for a holiday to Iraq in 2010 but wont leave the airport. :)

[dave550]

Ill go for a holiday to Iraq in 2010 but wont leave the airport. :)
Loooooooooool, you better not

[conquest]

2010!!! thats fast, we have to wait until 2020 for the complete renovation of eldorado, and a little bit offtopic i heard that emirates is going to make daily flights to bogota :cheers:

[nicouru]

$ 2 billion for an airport that might not even be used in any significant way in 2010 due too...I don't know a massive civil war??? That money would be better spent on security, or schooling, healthcare, or things that would actually facilitate social cohesion and entice people to go to Iraq without metallic neck defenses.

[Chalaco]

The airport renovation is awesome! I hope that while that is taking place other renovations (city, roads, etc) will also take place. :) Iraq can be such a grand nation , let's not forget Babylon. :D

[smussuw]

and of course the one who is going to build it is a joint between an Iraqi company and an American company.

It will take 4 years (how?)

sorry I couldnt find an english source.

لعراق بصدد تنفيذ مشروع الميناء الكبير بالبصرة بتكلفة 80 مليار

Mar 16, 2006 - 07:04 -

.

دبى فى 16 مارس / وام / اشار مصدر عراقى مسؤول الى ان بلاده بصدد تنفيذ مشروع الميناء الكبير بالبصرة كميناء ترانزيت عالمى يحقق ربطا حيويا بين اسيا واوروبا.

وقال يعرب المرديني مستشار وزير النقل العراقى فى كلمة له بالجلسة الختامية لمؤتمر النقل الطرقى الدولى الذى عقد بدبى ان بلاده بصدد تنفيذ هذا المشروع الحيوى الذى سيكون هاما فى مستقبل العراق وتركيا ويعتبر بوابة رئيسية بين العراق وتركيا باعتبارهما البوابة الرئيسية لاوروبا.

وفى تصريح خاص لـ/وام/ اوضح المرديني ان المشروع يتضمن تشييد مائة رصيف بطاقة ما بين 400 الى500 مليون طن سنويا ويتوقع البدء فى التنفيذ خلال هذا العام ويستغرق التنفيذ اربع سنوات تقريبا وبتكلفة تصل الى 80 مليار دولار وقد ارسي تنفيذ المشروع بعد قرار الحكومة العراقية على شركة عراقية مشتركة مع شركة عملاقة امريكية

this will dwarf UAE's ports :runaway:

anyway it is good for Iraq in the long run if things worked smoothly

[shayan]

this is great news i hope that the iraqies can see through these things that america wants the best for iraq.

[*UofT*]

They can just use Kuwait!! This is a waste of MONEY!

[*UofT*]

lets hope its 80billion dollars for the CITY OF BASRA, then I don't have problems with the contract.

But to spend that much on just the port is such a waste of resources.

[UnitedPakistan]

LMAO wipe out UAE ports?

What a stupid stupid article!

This will fail anyway because who the hell wants to do business in Iraq? I hope it fails at this point. 80 billion in the drain because of stupididy.

[Hosain85]

What doesn't make sense? All I said is that imposing something by external force is illegal, like what is happening in Iraq. And I never mentioned any other governments in the ME because they have nothing to do with what we're talking about.

[Qatar4Ever]

The usa spent $300 bn dollars of american tax money. In return all these nice beatiful contracts and rich oil fields will go to american compaines. The same compaines ran by politicans and the same compaines who pay $$$ for politican campaigns.

[*UofT*]

What doesn't make sense? All I said is that imposing something by external force is illegal, like what is happening in Iraq. And I never mentioned any other governments in the ME because they have nothing to do with what we're talking about.


Bro,

What i'm trying to get at is, the only thing that was enforced in Iraq was the removal of Saddam and the occupation forces remaining there that are by and part mainly Western forces.

If you think there is a puppet regime being installed in Iraq then that is a very cynical opinion on the democratic process in that country and you are entitled to what you believe in.

But trust me the Kurds and the Shiite's are ready to move forward with the new governing body of Iraq and its constitution. The problem is that there are some insurgent forces in Iraq that are both Shia and Sunni that are fighting the Western Occupation force. Along with some crazy fanatic muslim groups that are going around blowing up shit left right and center with road side bombs. I'm not going to get into who was responsible for the Shrine bombings but if some of you think that the US is responsible for the Shrine bombings think again, The US only gains profit when there is peace in Iraq.

Regardless of all of this above, the truth of the matter is there are literally hundreds of Imam's in Iraq that have differing intrepretations as to how the country should be run.. Democracy and an electorial process is the only hope along with unity between the three different sectarian groups.

[StormShadow]

Mosul, Iraq

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b6/Republic_of_Iraq_COA.svg/175px-Republic_of_Iraq_COA.svg.png

Mosul: Population - 1,739,800
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapimages/middle_east/iraq/iraq.gif


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Saint Elijah's Monastery
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Mosul Palace
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[Very Controversial]

Is that a big mosque under construction?

[shugs]

Interesting pics... i assume the area is in need of devolopment.. i bet once things settle down construction cranes will pop up all over the place lol

[Zorobabel]

Pretty sad that the people of Mosul travel to Duhok now for all their shopping and leisure time. A decade again Duhok was a village. Now it's a booming city.

[Gilgamesh]

I have to say it looks depressing. You'd never be able to tell it's population is almost 2 mil.

[shayan]

meh.... looks like a south african township... but mkay... i hope that after the war it can be a city again...

[khayam]

I've been to both Mosul and Baghdad (before the American invasion),and the difference was striking. Iraq, like most Arab countries adopted a policy of excessive centralization, where heavy investments were made in the capital and other cities were largely neglected.
That was really unfortunate, many "second cities" in the Middle East turned from major urban centers into cities in decline, while historically they were almost on par with the capital cities (Mosul,Alexandria, Aleppo, Tripoli etc...).
maybe in the future Mosul can return as a major trading center that links Syria and the Eastern mediterranean to the Iraqi hinterland. I have to say, the people of Mosul are really special, very kind and very welcoming to other Arabs (Mosul has a long Arab-nationalist history).

[SaiGoNeseKiD]

I don't know if anyone posted this before? :D

The Proposed Baghdad Renaissance Plan

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/BRP1.jpg

The Proposed Baghdad Renaissance Plan, is a 25-year scheme, designed by architect Hisham N. Ashkouri to transform 9 km² of silt deposits into an "an up-market commercial and residential neighborhood" astride the Tigris River in central Baghdad, as well as nearby Tahrir Square. Tahrir Square was originally part of the central business district of baghdad, and Phase I of the plan focuses on the redevelopment of this area. When finished, the "commerce, banking, medical, housing, broadcast and IT, exhibition, conventions and cultural centers" of which the plan is comprised would be occupied by up to one-half million people. The project received encouragement by the U.S. Department of Commerce as well as other US and Middle East organizations. It is a vision for the future of Baghdad, Iraq and the region. A smaller-scale proposal of Dr. Ashkouri's is the Sindbad Hotel Complex and Conference Center, a high-rise hotel and movie theater complex which would be Baghdad's first skyscraper.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0a/BRP2.jpg/800px-BRP2.jpg

The Sindbad Hotel Complex and Conference Center:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/CS003.jpg

The Sindbad Hotel Complex and Conference Center was designed by architect Hisham N. Ashkouri in 2004 to be the first new high-rise hotel, conference center and movie theater complex in modern Baghdad, as a bold and visible symbol of the reconstruction of Iraq. At the ground level, the Sindbad Hotel Complex houses a restaurant and grand entryway. Above that is a two level movie theater complex and conference center. The main body of this new addition to Iraq’s skyline and symbol of its rebirth as a modern nation is comprised of twenty floors of standard hotel rooms and luxury suites. Topping it all off is a rooftop restaurant reminiscent of nomadic tents, offering a spectacular view of the Tigris River and the city below. This new commercial center will become an important symbol for the New Iraq. Not only will it be a place for gathering and recreation, and a place to conduct the business of the emerging Iraqi economy, but it will also be an employer of several hundred construction workers and after construction will employ several hundred more citizens in an ongoing capacity.

Total project cost was estimated in 2005 to be approximately $113 M USD.


The Baghdad Tahrir Square Development is the first phase in architect Hisham N. Ashkouri's (ARKADD) proposed Baghdad Renaissance Plan. Based around an established traffic circle on the banks of the Tigris River in Baghdad's Central Business District, the proposed development would develop just under 150,000 square meters at a cost of approximately $860M. Included would be hotel, office, retail and residential space.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Tsq002.jpg/250px-Tsq002.jpg

The first component is Tahrir Circle, an eight story cultural center with a theater situated in the courtyard of the building. The next part of the development is office complex A, which forms one point of a triangular configuration of office complexes, along with B and C. A forty-two-story hotel sits in the center of the triangle as the geographic and aesthetic centerpiece of the development. The hotel and office buildings rest on a three level retail, parks, and recreation concourse. The entire cost of the Tahrir Square Development is projected to be $860 million.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Tahrir_Sq-3D1.jpg/400px-Tahrir_Sq-3D1.jpg

Economics and Financing: The Current economic conditions in Baghdad are ripe for a new infusion of development with financial resources matching that, which can be found in new developments such as the one in Dubai. The designs allow for the private sector to take the initiative to invest in new buildings to be part of the commercial and other developments, and to pay over time the cost of the land development, long-term lease and the necessary infrastructure required for their specific sites. The design projects the Baghdad Renaissance Plan total construction cost of $13-14 billion to generate a profit of 20-30% per year.

http://www.arcadd.com/images/Torus_Bldg-Foregrnd-lg.jpg

[Phoenician Empire]

wow sounds good. thanks saigon_monsooner.

Now we just nead PEACE

[Nadini]

Hopefully this will happen! It will surely improve the image of Iraq

[shugs]

Very very nice.. Baghdad will finally get the skyline it deserves

[Halawala]

Excellent, but it will never happen with the current political situation

[*UofT*]

Excellent, but it will never happen with the current political situation

Indeed, on average there are around 50 people dead every day in Iraq majority of casualities happening in Baghdad. :ohno:

[africa500]

Baaghdad is now such a mess that i dont think it will happen.
Baaghdad is beeing divided with a sunni West and shia East,
and iraq will be divided because there is no solution to the issue now only in division

[Halawala]

Yalla inshalla in the future it will be different.

[Emirati_Girl]

Yes.. inshallah that will happen.. but the fightings groups must be relax.. to do this project ..

Goodluck for Iraq and thier ppl :)

[Halawala]

Project: ERBIL ROTANA HOTEL
Location: Kurdistan Iraq (Northern Iraq)
Rooms: 205
Cost: $55m


Beirut, Lebanon - “Malia”, the prominent Lebanese holding group and “Rotana Hotels” the leading Hotel Management Company in the Middle East, announced the signing of a partnership agreement for the management of a 5 star 205 roomed hotel in the city of Erbil, located in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The US$55 million plus hotel will be among a series of projects to be launched by Malia Holding through its tourism investment affiliated company,” Hotel Line”,.

This announcement took place during a press conference held at the Gefinor Rotana Hotel in Beirut during which Mr. Jacques Jean Sarraf, President of Malia Holding sal and Mr. Selim El Zyr, President & CEO for Rotana Hotels presented full details of this milestone project.

The event attended by local and regional media executives, highlighted Malia’s vision to expand beyond the local markets, in search of strategic regional investment opportunities. Malia’s quest for excellence made its decision to partner with Rotana Hotels, a natural selection.

Malia’s plans to invest in Erbil stem from the city’s economic, social and political climate which makes it an ideal destination for investments, particularly in tourism.

The Kurdistan area of Iraq has in fact gained a worldwide reputation of being a gateway to Iraq, a stable and thriving area with an increasingly prosperous population of 5 million. The region has 2 new international airports, a liberal foreign investment law that offers foreign investors.

The 5 star Erbil Rotana Hotel will be built on a premium 20,000 m² parcel of land strategically located in front of the large Sami Rahman park and between the convention center and Erbil Exhibition Fair. In addition to the 205 rooms and suites, the property will feature, among others, restaurants and complete recreational areas including Bodylines health and fitness club and a swimming pool.

Commenting on this announcement, Mr. Jacques Jean Sarraf, President of Malia Holding sal expressed confidence and excitement in the new formed partnership saying that “The prospects of the Erbil project will also benefit the people of Iraq through the creation of hundreds of jobs. Malia is enthusiastic about developments in the Kurdistan and keen on taking an active role in shaping the outlook of tourism and helping rebuild a strong and solid economy in Iraq”.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9167/erbilyw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Good News for Iraq! :banana:

[shugs]

Good news for Iraqi Kurdistan...

[Hassoun]

^^Yes,Good news,many lebanese investors pouring money into Iraqi Kurdistan

[Hassoun]

Lebanese partners plan first plush hotel in Iraqi Kurdistan
Five-star facility expected to cost about $55 million

By Mirvat Ammouri
Special to The Daily Star
Tuesday, September 04, 2007

http://www.dailystar.com.lb//admin/storage/articles/2007932346370.8-Rotana1-aza.jpg

BEIRUT: A Lebanese group unveiled plans Monday to build the first five-star hotel in the Kurdish area of northern Iraq. Malia Group and Rotana Hotels announced the signing of a partnership agreement for the construction of a $55 million hotel in the city of Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan at a news conference in the Rotana Hotel in Hamra.

The Irbil hotel should open in October 2009 and will be owned by Malia subsidiary Hotel Line and managed by Rotana, said Malia Group president Jacques Sarraf and Rotana Hotels president and CEO Selim al-Zyr.

The 205-room hotel will feature five-star amenities such as a pool, ballroom, restaurants, conference halls and other recreational facilities. It will be built on 20,000 square meters and will cater to both businesspeople and regional and international tourists.

The workforce will consist of both Lebanese and Kurds. Trained experts in different fields of the hospitality sector will transfer to Irbil to begin construction and oversee operations, while at the same time Kurds will be trained and hired, each in his or her respective field. Therefore, the project will help create jobs for Kurds and expand the job prospects for a few Lebanese citizens looking to extend their efforts in the Middle East.

The primary investor in the project is Malia Holding. "Potential investors, however ... are still welcome," said Sarraf.

The aim of the alliance is to add the tourism sector to Malia's interests in the Middle East by capitalizing on the brand equity that Rotana has created over the years in the region.

Both companies said their objective was to expand their operations and influence inside the Middle East. The presidents of both companies explained their vision of a successful venture in Iraq, specifically Irbil, which has been considered recently by many business men to be the gateway to Iraq.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb

"There is great synergy from the Malia-Rotana team" Sarraf told journalists.

The alliance hopes to combine Malia's experience in Iraq since 1997 and in Irbil since 2003, with the experience Rotana has in the hospitality industry to create a venture that, according to both presidents, will be the first of many in Iraq.

Growth forecasts of the Kurdistan region, coupled with stability and government support for investors through tax relief and other incentives, triggered interest in the area.

Iraqi Kurdish officials are keen to have tourism play a more important part in the region's economy. The opening of a new international airport in Irbil, and increasingly well developed and regulated banking and financing sectors are expected to facilitate the hotel venture's future operations.

Mostly free from the violence that affects many parts of Iraq, Kurdistan has been relatively peaceful in the wake of the US-led invasion in 2003.

Malia Group, first founded in 1935, is a leading Lebanese organization, consolidating subsidiary companies dealing in the production of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco, food and other consumer products, marketing and distribution, and recently in tourism.

Rotana Hotels, founded in 1992, is a Middle East-born hospitality firm operating in many Arab countries, including Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, Jordan, and Sudan, and currently has 29 more hotels under construction, which will make it the largest hotel operator in the region.

[cyborg81]

we should all send IMRE to iraq to get us daily/weekly photo updates from iraq:D

[aliwatte]

nice but first you have to pull out the american enemy and his friend then peace come back then the devloppement start .
no developement with out of peace .

[metal gear]

Hopefully this will happen! It will surely improve the image of Iraq

wow i read ur comment and tried to remember the pre occupation iraq.

most of all the image of iraq and how that changed .the comparison will bring tears to ur eyes.

from a great and very modern country that is the first in the region . strong and advanced. to.................this.

nowadays a small hotel in a seperatist enclave in iraq is considered a reason to rejoice . do u remember when iraq was about to put a satellite in orbit . do u remember the iraq with a local nuclear program .

from space age to stone age ...............thank u usa.

[Galandar]

I really hope Iraq could overgo all this tragedy

[Frog]

A old project for a metro systm in Baghdad :cheers:
http://www.ajg41.plus.com/images/iraq/map-baghdad-metro.jpg

[Jim856796]

Baghdad may be planning to build an 80,000-seat National Stadium. I don't think it should be built.

[gole_hayahou]

IMO money should be spent on renovating cities and redeveloping areas majorly hit by US attacks...

[BigDreamer]

I think electricity and water infrastructure is more essential than a stadium :bash:

[gole_hayahou]

^ exactly.

[channel]

storm shadow, are you in the us army??

also does anyone have a picture of the baghdad airport before the 2003 invasion, cheers. !!

those pictures paint a messy and dirty picture of Iraq, even though that once beautiful country has a lot to offer

[centralcali19]

The way things are going now, its going to take time for reconstruction, but hopefully when it does, it could change Iraq. I could imagine Bagdad with dozens of cranes, just like other middle eastern cities , such as Dubai and Kuwait City. hey maybe one day it can rival other cities (hint: Dubai) :)

[channel]

Baghdad may be planning to build an 80,000-seat National Stadium. I don't think it should be built.

what do they need that for, they should spend the money on hospitals, water tratment/ sewage treatment plants and general debt reduction among the population, total bonkers:ohno:

[Onur]

Is there any highrise projects for Iraq?

[gole_hayahou]

^^ if you go a few pages back you will see :)

[gole_hayahou]

Iraq signs with contracts to build projects worth more than $63 billion - 5/31/2008

http://www.rebuild-iraq-expo.com/News_show_news.asp?id=3537

Iraq has signed contracts worth more than $63 billion dollars with a large number of investment companies to implement reconstruction projects in Iraq.

The most prominent of these projects, according to head the Iraqi National Investment Authority Dr. Ahmed Ridha, are the establishment of the great port of Basra and the reconstruction of Baghdad International Airport in addition to building housing units and a new city with integrated housing which will be one of the largest modern cities in the Middle East.
“During the current year, we have introduced numerous investment projects, and many contracts were signed with different companies worldwide,” said Ridha pointing out that $12 billion is earmarked for the port of Basra and $17 billion for building the Baghdad international airport, in addition to setting up business and building hotels. He added that the projects also include the construction of 200 thousand housing units and hotels, plus a touristic city on the Corniche of Kufa in the Najaf governorate at a cost of $34 billion, in addition to the establishment of new Kut city at a cost of $650 million.
Ridha added that the second reconstruction conference held recently in Cairo was a turning point at rebuilding Iraq, as it witnessed signing big contracts to be invested in many provinces. The Iraqi delegation participating at conference has presented large investment projects planned in many Iraqi governorates and the feedback of investors and entrepreneurs was overwhelming. For example, C. Krupp has signed investment contracts with four Iraqi provinces (Diwaniyah, Anbar, Karbala and Nasiriyah).
On the other hand, the government of Iraq has agreed on signing with a German company to build five hospitals that cost $700million. On this occasion, Govt.’s spokesman Ali Dabbagh said that the Cabinet has decided giving reconstruction committee’s wide authorities to reduce time and measures at carrying out service projects and building hospitals.

http://www.rebuild-iraq-expo.com

[gole_hayahou]

Korek planning $400 million investment in Iraq

http://www.projectsmiddleeast.com/read.asp?id=3511

Iraq’s Korek Telecom is planning to spend some US$400 million over the next twelve months on its GSM network - despite still having not concluded its joint venture details with UAE based Etisalat.

“We have already started planning for the nationwide network,” Hamid Akrawi, chief operating officer of Korek told the Middle East Business Intelligence. “It will take maybe six months to one year and it will cost us $300-400m.” The company has not yet selected a supplier for the network infrastructure. Korek Telecom operated a network in the Kurdish region and in 2007 signed a joint venture agreement with Orascom Telecom. Orascom broke up the partnership at the end of last year citing difficulties between the two companies. Earlier this year, Etisalat confirmed that it is in talks with Korek Telecom - but these are still ongoing.

http://www.projectsmiddleeast.com/

[gole_hayahou]

Foreign firms vie for $15 billion Iraqi construction contract

http://www.projectsmiddleeast.com/read.asp?id=3528&CategID=49

International firms are competing for one of the largest construction schemes in the country at a total cost of nearly $15 billion, a statement by Baghdad Municipality said.

The statement said 14 firms have supplied tenders to construct the Al-Rasheed City to be built on a former massive military camp bearing the same name.
The city will include a 4000-bed hospital and as well 21 specialized clinics to form the largest medical complex the Middle East in the future, the statement said.
The residential complex that will include six residential sectors with hundreds of 3-6 story building is expected initially to house 60,000 people, it added.
The return of some semblance of normalcy to Baghdad is encouraging some firms to submit offers.
Most foreign firms had fled Iraqi due to mounting insecurity. Many have migrated to the more peaceful Kurdish north, taking a wait-and-see attitude.

http://www.projectsmiddleeast.com/

[gole_hayahou]

Damac plans $15bn Iraq project

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/521031-uaes-damac-properties-plans-45-bln-iraq-developement?ln=en

UAE developer Damac Properties plans a $15 billion development in Iraq's Kurdistan province to start by the year-end, Damac said on Tuesday.

The project includes residential, commercial and hospitality buildings over 170 million square feet in Arbil, Damac said.

Damac Chairman Hussain Sajwani said the first phase of the project would cost $4.5 billion and the total cost of the project would be 55 billion dirhams ($14.98 billion). "Tarin Hills development... will also create jobs and support growth in related sectors such as tourism and hospitality," the statement quoted Nerchivan Barzani, the prime minister of the region, as saying.

Damac, with projects in countries including Egypt, Qatar and Jordan, will eventually borrow funds from banks but will launch the project using Damac equity, Sajwani said.

Damac unit Damac Kuwaiti Holding, which listed in Kuwait in April, has said it would use listing proceeds to finance Iraq projects. (Reuters)

http://www.arabianbusiness.com

[Qatar Son 333]

i say the Gulf countries should invest in building mass housing projects with schools and medical services available along with retail. for example the project in west bank by Qatar...

[salar]

This will be a nice project to invest in , im requesting info from DAMAC to check, you can find the master plan below.

http://www.damacproperties.com/iq/en/index.asp

http://www.damacproperties.com/tarin-hills/masterplan.pdf

[gole_hayahou]

That should be great for Iraq ^^

Iraqi Kurdistan is a nice place to start tourism and hospitality in the country.

The Marriott Hotel were thinking of building in Baghdad, not sure if that is a good thing though.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=624278

Hopefully there is more to come!

Salar: do u live in Baghdad?

[gole_hayahou]

Some more information on the project:

Damac to develop 170 million sq feet master development in Kurdistan, Iraq

04 June 2008

http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/31996

Damac Properties – the luxury lifestyle provider and Middle East’s largest private sector master developer announced its plans in Kurdistan, Iraq, with the launch of the Tarin Hills master development in Erbil.

Located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the project is a conglomeration of residential, retail, commercial, hospitality, entertainment, health and sports components interwoven within the picturesque terrain of Erbil.

The master development, Damac’s first in Iraq, follows the success of its master development 'Gamsha Bay’ in Egypt.

The development, to spread across a massive 170 million square feet, will offer residential communities and the best of retail environments and recreational offerings.

Phase 1 of the development has a value of $4.5bn.

Damac’s development plans in Erbil were announced at a press conference held in the presence of His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, and a number of ministers from the region.

Speaking at the press conference, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani said: 'The Tarin Hills development will not only help promote the global face of Erbil, it will also create jobs and support growth in related sectors, such as tourism and hospitality. We thank Damac for taking this initiative which is very positive statement and symbol of the stability and growth potential of the Kurdistan Region. We are confident of the success of this project and pledge our full cooperation with Damac and its investors in making Tarin Hills a world class development.'

Damac’s Chairman Hussain Sajwani said: 'We are very confident that Erbil’s unique topography has great potential to become an attractive destination for both high-end and mass tourism. We are happy to contribute to the development of a new Kurdistan and believe that this investment will contribute towards the growth phase of the region and a landmark in Iraq development.

The Tarin Hills development is a distinctive lifestyle expression and extends the perfect choice of amenities creating a destination for discerning homebuyers and businesses alike.'

Peter Riddoch, CEO of Damac Properties, said: 'The hills of Tarin will be transformed into a golf course residential community with villas surrounding and intertwined amongst the 18-hole course.

This community will be augmented with a Golf Club and Health Centre, which will be a focal point destination for recreation and leisure. In addition to this, the community will encompass a water and theme park, arts and crafts centres, retail complexes, besides schools and business parks.'

The development will feature Mediterranean styled villas, townhouses, apartment blocks, a variety of retail outlets, a formal and traditional mall, a cluster of office complexes to serve as the business park, a community wide sports centre and spa, arts and crafts centre, business hotels and country lodge hotels, water and theme park and schools for the residents of Tarin Hills.

Other features of the project include:
- A fully gated community with security fence, checkpoints, high-tech screening at entrance gates, numerous internal monitoring points and around-the-clock security patrols.
- The most sophisticated technology and modern amenities such as, wireless high-speed internet supply and internal telephone network.
- 24-hr maintenance services (landscaping, swimming pools, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, satellite dish, etc.).
- Housekeeping services.
- Gas station with emergency repair services and car decoration shop.
- Dedicated and safe children’s play areas.
- Dedicated around the hour bus service to Erbil City Centre.
- Clear directions on all internal roads and villas for easy navigation.
- Police Station and Civil Defense inside the community in case of emergencies.
- Back up generators and water storage tanks.

A dedicated building with a footprint of 3,000 sqm and a total of 10 floors generates over 30,000 sqm of gross space available for various medical clinics and facilities to cater to the health needs of the Tarin Hills residents and the community at large.

A hospitable reception welcomes all, and is supported by state of the art technologies for quick and efficient processing.

From pharmacies to pediatrics, from dentistry to chiropractors, a variety of specialists and general MDs will be able to set up clinics and cater to all public health needs.

Set within the business park, the medical center will have fantastic views to the mountains on either side, and is located within a lush landscape park next to a water impounded pond.

The floor plates are big and spacious enough to accommodate large facilities, and can also be broken up into smaller units for those private practices.

Its setting within the well maintained community of Tarin Hills will ensure a pleasant and comfortable stay, and no doubt a speedier recovery.

DamacHolding has now grown into a global conglomerate with more than 7000 employees in 18 countries.

Being one of the first private sector companies to make a commitment to Dubai’s real estate market, Damac Properties has become the market leader with a strong sales record to its credit.

http://www.iraqupdates.com

[panj-delaavaraan]

Sounds like a lot of the projects are in Kurdistan, where the situation is more stable.

[B-Patriot]

Yeah, my dad went there a year ago on a business trip.. He said it seemed nice and very stable... And sorta different... Kurdistan seems to be very autonomous with a sorta unique culture.. Kurdish culture i guess..

And now Sarkozy plans to have an embassy in Kurdistan, u might've heard..

[gole_hayahou]

I have friends that travel to and from Iraqi Kurdistan every summer without fail.
They say its very safe.

[gole_hayahou]

I have friends that travel to and from Iraqi Kurdistan every summer without fail.
They say its very safe.

[gole_hayahou]

Investment boom in Kurdistan
Posted on 11 Jun 2008

Newroz Amin, a representative from the Kurdistan Investment Authority revealed that “Over 105 investment projects worth over US $16 billion in the regions of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok have been recorded.”

Amin, the director general of legal, financial and administrative affairs at the Kurdistan Investment Authority spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat from her office in Erbil she said, “All of these projects are independent of the regional government we do not hold any shares in them. These are private company investment projects.”
“The projects encompass various fields including tourism, production, agriculture, finance, education (private universities), health (private hospitals), commerce (the construction of shopping centers) and housing,” she added.
“16 percent of the investment projects are funded by foreign investors, 25 percent of investment projects are funded by foreign and local investors, and 59 percent of investors are Iraqi,” explained Newroz Amin.
Amin also discussed recently authorized projects “One newly approved investment project was the Damac company project, the capital of which will reach over US $6 billion. The project will be implemented over two stages each stage will cost US $3 billion dollars and will take five years to complete.”
“Erbil, or Hewler as it is known in Kurdish, has been transformed into a large construction site with the building of two large hotels the Grand Rotana Hotel and Le Royale Hotel. In addition, American Village, a large residential project, as well as the English Village and the Italian Village are being built. Residential, tourism and production investment projects are being established in Sulaymaniyah and Duhok and a German Village in Sulaymaniyah is under construction next to three cement factories,” she added.
Amin pointed out that “There are many factors for success in the region, the most prominent of which are perhaps the stability of security and the standards of procedure according to fixed laws. Moreover, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, encourages the youth to implement administrative projects in the region, including investment projects, which is critical for the Kurdish economy.”
Newroz Amin indicated that the facilities or privileges offered to investors are open to all in accordance with the Kurdistan Region Investment Law 2006, which states that any investment project in the region is exempt of all non-custom taxes and duties for 10 years from the date that it provides services or the date of actual production. Amin described this law as an “incentive for investment by providing facilities that are not offered elsewhere in the region.”
“This law applies to projects that are approved by the Investment Authority in the sectors of manufacturing, electricity and related services, in addition to agriculture, forestry, hotels and tourism projects, theme parks, health, the environment, scientific and technological research, information technology, transport and modern communications, banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, infrastructure projects including construction, reconstruction, housing projects, roads and bridges and the relevant advisory services,” explained Amin.
Newroz Amin continued to discuss the laws related to foreign investors: “Foreign investors and capital are treated the same as national investors and capital. Foreign investors have the absolute right to own the capital of any project that they have set up in the region in accordance with this law.”
“The regional Supreme Council for Investment, based on a proposal made by the Investment Authority, has the right to transfer ownership of the land that is allocated to strategic projects at a promotional price proposed by the Authority or free of charge provided that the nature and importance of the project and public interest are safeguarded,” she said.
Amin stressed, “Investors must obtain reliable foreign or national insurance to cover their projects. The investor has the right to employ the necessary foreign or domestic workforce for the project, while giving priority to employing domestic workers in accordance with the implemented laws in the region.”
“Foreign investors are permitted to transfer their profits abroad in accordance with the provisions of this law. Similarly, non-Iraqi workers and those with whom they deal outside of the region have the right to transfer their dues and wages abroad,” she said.
Amin added, “The law stipulates that the foreign investor can return his capital abroad upon completing or liquidating the project as long as the operation does not violate the regional law and the tax and customs measures that govern the project.”
Asharq Al-Awsat

http://www.projectsmiddleeast.com/read.asp?id=3575&CategID=49

[gole_hayahou]

European company to build residential compound in Iraqi city of Diwaniya

Posted on 15 Jun 2008

GEM Euro Group signed a contract to construct a residential compound in Dewaniya, the province’s governor announced.
He added that work on the project will commence in early August 2008. “After four days of negotiations, a contract with the Euro GEM was signed to invest in constructing a residential compound in Dewaniya city, and work in the project will commence in early August 2008,” Hamid al-Khdhairi said in a press conference in Diwaniya, which was attended by GEM’s representative.
“This compound will be built according to high quality criteria, with a power system separate from the city’s, in addition to water and cooking gas supplies, furniture, and advanced services, such as mosques, markets, schools, and others,” he explained.
“It will be called ‘The New City of Diwaniya,’ and it will occupy an area of 80 donams (1 donam = 1,000 square meters),” he said.
“The compound will consist of two separate units, and each ground floor flat will have an area of 200 – 250 squared meters, while flats at other levels will have an area of 100 – 120 squared meters each,” he added. “Green spaces will occupy 40 percent of the total compound’s area,” he noted.
He did not mention how many flats the compound will embrace, or where it will be constructed.
He noted that there is an international agreement with this company to construct an oil refinery, a concrete factory, in addition to other projects proposed by the company to Diwaniya’s local authorities, such as an investment bank to fund the residential houses that company builds.
Al-Khdhairi stressed that the Euro GEM will sell or rent the flats in coordination with Diwaniya local authority.
From his side, Habib-Allah al-Jazaeree, GEM’s representative, said “we will complete the project’s designs next week, and work will commence in early August.”
“Work will be finalized within an exceptional period of time,” he added.
“After we thoroughly examined the security situation in Diwaniya, we found that the situation allows companies to execute projects in the city,” he noted.
He highlighted that there are other agreements to be signed with Diwaniya’s local authorities to execute other large important projects.
Local authorities in Diwaniya signed a memorandum of understanding with GEM Group that belongs to five Euro countries, during the second investment conference that was held in Cairo two weeks ago.
Diwaniya city lies 180 km south of Baghdad.

Aswat Al-Iraq

http://www.projectsmiddleeast.com/read.asp?id=3590&CategID=49

[gole_hayahou]

Foundation stone laid for disabled rehabilitation center in Karbala

Posted on 16 Jun 2008

The Iraqi minister of health laid the foundation stone for a rehabilitation center for the disabled in Karbala province, which is expected to be completed within eight months.


“The project is the first of its kind in Iraq and will be followed be similar projects in other cities, including Samawa, Basra and Amara,” Minister Saleh al-Hasnawi told Aswat al-Iraq.
Given the center’s need for qualified staff, a number of physicians, nurses and therapists have been sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany to undertake training courses there, the minister noted.
The center, whose total cost is 1.4 billion Iraqi dinars (1 U.S. dollar= 1,221 Iraqi dinars), will be especially equipped for the disabled, Hasnawi explained.
Karbala, Iraq’s second holiest Shiite city after Najaf, lies 110 km southwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

http://www.projectsmiddleeast.com/read.asp?id=3596&CategID=49

[salar]

Just called Damac "They will launch the project on the 17 of July and in order to get the pre-launch prices you need to deposite a refundable 10,000 $ now" , i will visit them next thirsday to get more info about the construction order for the mall villas .....etc.

[salar]

Another Project is taking place in north of iraq-erbil in the name of american villages , more info can be found in there website.

http://americanvillage.info/

[gole_hayahou]

^^ looks good.

[suffain2001]

why call it that when you know someones gonna blow it up someday because of its name???

[Hassoun]

Lebanese companies build five-star hotel in Kurdistan
July 18, 2008



Prime Minister of the Kurdish region in Iraq Najirvan al-Barazani and Former Lebanese Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis laid the first stone of a five-star hotel in the city of Irbil in northern Iraq.

The hotel is being built by Lebanese construction companies at an estimated cost of $60 million.

Barazani said that the first stone sends a message to the whole world that Kurdistan is a region that is open to all commercial activities and will be a gateway to Iraq in the future.

“Foreign investment in this region shows that this part of Iraq enjoys security stability, and that there are chances for investment,” Barazani said.

Former Minister Sarkis said he is optimistic over the future of Lebanese investments in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

-NOW Staff

[BigDreamer]

Five-star hotel planned for Baghdad

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say they have approved plans to build a five-star hotel in the Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone.

Iraq's National Investment Commission says land for the project is being leased by the Summit Global Group, a U.S.-based investment company.

Robert Kelley, head of Summit Global, says the 300-room hotel will cost $100 million. He says American and Iraqi investors are involved in the project, but he did not name them.

At a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Kelley said construction would begin soon, but he did not specify a date.

Iraqi government offices and American diplomatic and military facilities are inside the Green Zone, also known as the International Zone.

[MKTJ]

hi guys >>>
i know that sounds crazy and so Embarrassing >>>
but i dont know how to upload pictures on this thread from my computer
:wallbash:
:ohno:
would you guys show me the way because im new in this form >>>
and please Forgive me for my bad english

[Skoulikimou]

hi guys >>>
i know that sounds crazy and so Embarrassing >>>
but i dont know how to upload pictures on this thread from my computer
:wallbash:
:ohno:
would you guys show me the way because im new in this form >>>
and please Forgive me for my bad english

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=8059418&postcount=1

[MKTJ]

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6418/67080261ie9.jpg

[MKTJ]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=8059418&postcount=1

thanks :)

[salar]

Just got the prices list for the project , its very expensive.

PRICING
May 2008 Standard Home

Living area 327 m²
Deposit $35,000
1st Installment $35,000
2nd Installment $35,000
3rd Installment $35,000
4th Installment $35,000
5th Installment $50,000
6th Installment $25,000
TOTAL $250,000

www.americanvillage.info

rest price can be found here

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pYim6AekE6mKsQDzn-G6HYw&hl=en

[l'eau]

Lebanese companies build five-star hotel in Kurdistan
July 18, 2008



Prime Minister of the Kurdish region in Iraq Najirvan al-Barazani and Former Lebanese Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis laid the first stone of a five-star hotel in the city of Irbil in northern Iraq.

The hotel is being built by Lebanese construction companies at an estimated cost of $60 million.

Barazani said that the first stone sends a message to the whole world that Kurdistan is a region that is open to all commercial activities and will be a gateway to Iraq in the future.

“Foreign investment in this region shows that this part of Iraq enjoys security stability, and that there are chances for investment,” Barazani said.

Former Minister Sarkis said he is optimistic over the future of Lebanese investments in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

-NOW Staff

there is no a country which name is kurdistan!!!:bash::bash:

[Soballe]

however there is a autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq

[Hawa Beirut]

edit

[Hawa Beirut]

there is no a country which name is kurdistan!!!:bash::bash:

i never imagined that turks would be that sensetive towards kurds:weird:

[l'eau]

^^now you can imagine!!

[MrColombia]

Iraq will def. need a lot of "green" proyects......PARKS PARKS! & green peaceful spaces...

[BigDreamer]

Officials in Baghdad and Najaf governorates both announced over the weekend that they intend to cash in on the growing tourism industry in Iraq by commissioning local tourism projects.

Radio Dijla reported that British company has won a contract to design and supervise the construction of a $30 billion tourist town in the histrocially important province of Najaf, quoting the Minister of Municipalities and Public Works, Riyadh Ghareeb.

The minister claimed that studies of the site have already begun. He did not name the British company.

"A British company will be making the designs but the execution will be done by a Kuwaiti company under supervision by the British," the minister said.

In Baghdad, Dr. Sabir al-Isawi, mayor of Baghdad, has said that Baghdad's municipality is making plans of its own to develop local tourist resorts in it, including the "Gardens Town", for which and solicitations for bids have already been made he claimed.

Speaking to the press, al-Isawi said: "This Gardens Town will include huge playground which will be set up north of Baghdad on an area estimated at 650 acres. It will have 14 different gardens at a cost in the excess of $300 million.

"Each of these gardens will have statues of cultural, scientific and political figures and for personalities that played a major and important role in the history of Iraq."

The mayor pointed out that the cost of the designs ranges from between $2-3m and that the overall cost of the project will be more than $300m.

"The [Baghdad] municipality has announced the town's project, and seven companies have expressed their desire to build it. A committee headed by the general director of the designs in Baghdad's municipality to study the offers and sign contracts," al-Isawi said.

He explained that interest in the project has mainly come from foreign companies, with only local firms having expressed an interest.

[BigDreamer]

100-Storey skyscraper centrepiece for new Najaf City

Najaf, one of Iraq’s holiest cities, will be home to the country’s first 100-storey skyscraper that will be a centerpiece to the multi-billion dollar construction project, according to the deputy governor of Najaf, Abdul-Hussain Abtan.

Pending approval from the ministerial council, Az-Zaman newspaper reported that the giant construction will be part of the $30 billion ‘New Njaf City’, new development to be built over the next 10 years.

During a celebration held by the Najaf governorate to honor correspondents of newspapers, radio and satellite television stations, Abtan said: "An agreement has been made to build the New Najaf city.

The agreement has been signed with the Kuwaiti Akila Company according to a contract valued at $30 billion. The project has already been submitted to the presidency of the cabinet (office of the prime minister) for endorsement."

Engineering plans for the project reveal that it will overlook the Najaf Lake and will include a series of large hotels to accommodate pilgrims, hospitals, schools, a sports town, medical facilities and laboratories and many other public buildings, in addition to the skyscraper.

Abtan said that the authorities aim to raise private finance for much of the project, and have established marketing offices in Najaf and Dubai to generate interest.

Explaining the potential benefits to interested parties, Abtan said that investors will take a 65% share of profits from the project, with the remaining 35% for the governorate.

25% of all shares in the project have reserved exclusively for Najaf city residents.

According to Abtan, the project will take ten years to complete, and "It will greatly lower unemployment in the Najaf governorate and in neighboring governorates as well. It will provide more than 85,000 new jobs.”

[BigDreamer]

$3 billion for Baghdad's urban development

Iraq has announced that it is seeking a multi billion dollar investment over the next three years to fund a masterplan to revitalise conflict-torn Baghdad with new hotels, restaurants and highways.

"Three billion dollars are needed over three years for infrastructure and the equivalent amount for investment projects," said Tahsin al-Sheikhli, spokesman for the civilian wing of Baghdad's security plan, with a focus on the rebuilding of its infrastructure.

"A year ago, we were not able to talk about such projects as we were worried about security issues. We have succeeded in that area and now we will succeed in construction," he said.

During a press conference held on Tuesday, al-Sheikhli said that Baghdad needs a change to its 25-year old design which can no longer accommodate the sizeable increase in its population over the past two decades.

Baghdad Municipality has already opened the door for foreign companies to invest in building infrastructure projects in Baghdad in addition to a variety of recreational and tourist projects.

Another local authority, the Baghdad Governorate Council, has started soliciting bids on huge strategic projects that will greatly change the look of the capital. These include new road bridges over busy intersections to reduce congestion and the demolition of new homes to make way for new high rise residential units with full public services.

He also said that leisure and tourism facilities in the city will be overhauled, with the addition of new public parks and five star hotels. Al-Sheikhli added that a permit has just recently been issued to an Iraqi company to build the luxury Kadhimiyya hotel.

Sheikhli urged foreign companies to come forward and invest in Baghdad, saying that the Iraqi government did not have the means to cover the costs on its own.

[Art-8888]

Here are few pictures of the American Village:

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/June08/Virginia_Street.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/June08/EndOfCross.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/June08/Florida.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/June08/Florida2.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Janu08/Amer.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Janu08/Storm_line.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Janu08/Alabama_Mississipi.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Janu08/Paving_AV.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Janu08/Iowa_Circle.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Janu08/Side_walk.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Dec07/View.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Dec07/KentuckyRoad.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Dec07/VriginaRoad.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/View_June07.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/WorkProgress_March07.jpg

http://www.americanvillage.info/Sec/ConstructionUpdate/Site_Feb07.jpg

[channel]

By Benjamin Morgan AFP - 2 hours 6 minutes agoBAGHDAD (AFP) - Royal Dutch Shell will form a gas venture with energy-rich Iraq worth up to four billion dollars, the oil ministry said Tuesday of the first Western oil major to do a deal with the central government since the 2003 invasion.

(Advertisement)
The venture to capture unwanted gas burned off during oil production, for domestic consumption and export, is expected to be signed in Baghdad next month, ministry spokesman Assem Jihad told AFP.

The deal with the Anglo-Dutch company is estimated to be worth between three billion and four billion dollars (2.13 billion-2.84 billion euros), the Financial Times newspaper said.

In the past two years, several other energy majors have signed contracts with Iraq's northern Kurdish administration, much to the annoyance of Baghdad.

Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has repeatedly warned the Kurds their contracts would be considered invalid in the absence of a national oil law.

Iraq's cabinet approved the contract, giving state-owned Southern Oil Co 51 percent and Shell 49 percent of the venture, to be based in the southern city of Basra.

The project is intended to make use of the 21 million cubic metres (700 million cubic feet) of gas -- roughly enough to meet the demand for all of Iraq's power generation -- that the oil industry burns off for safety reasons, the FT said.

"Europe is looking for supplies of gas from Iraq," Jihad told the paper. "Security used to be a deterrent, but now companies feel that security has improved and this will encourage others to come in."

Analysts welcomed the tie-up, saying liquefied natural gas for export could be used to meet booming demand in the fast-growing economies of the Middle East, especially the Gulf.

"There are untapped resources in Iraq, and if Shell can help develop them there is loads of potential for gas," said Michael Corke, a vice president in Dubai of energy consultancy Purvin and Gertz.

The share price of Royal Dutch Shell's 'A' shares slipped 0.96 percent to 1,749 pence two hours before the close of Tuesday trade on the London Stock Exchange following a slide in global oil prices.

Iraq has the world's third-largest oil reserves, while its natural gas reserves are also huge and almost completely untapped.

According to US-based industry report the Oil and Gas Journal, Iraq holds 112 trillion cubic feet (3.36 trillion cubic metres) of proven gas reserves, the world's 10th largest.

"Gas in Iraq is much less developed than oil," said Walid Khadduri, a consultant and energy analyst for Middle East Economic Survey.

Iraq's energy industry is in dire need of modern equipment and technology after production facilities went into decline during the decade of crippling UN sanctions that followed the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Iraq has called on international firms to help it develop its energy resources. In June, it agreed to invite 35 companies to bid on service projects but failed to sign expected technical support deals with six other energy majors.

The oil ministry threw open six oilfields and two gas fields for international bidding for the 35 companies for which contracts are expected to be signed next June.

The separate preliminary agreements with the six energy majors were meant to open the way for longer-term contracts but are now likely to be scrapped, Jihad said.

"After delays and differences with the companies over the length of contracts, the ministry is now inclined to bypass that stage and focus on longer-term development contracts," he added.

Last month, China became the first foreign group to reach an agreement with Iraq in a three billion dollar deal to exploit oil.

It revived a 1997 contract granting China the rights to develop the Al-Ahdab oil field in central Iraq, although again the new arrangement is only a service agreement and includes no revenue sharing.



http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080909/tts-britain-iraq-energy-gas-bd2cd9d.html

[Crash2010]

Iraq is such a beautiful country, I can't wait for all this madness to calm, and for all the investment opportunities to go through. :happy:

[Soballe]

Iraq is such a beautiful country, I can't wait for all this madness to calm, and for all the investment opportunities to go through. :happy:
It's close i can sense it

[karar]

any info on the german village been build in sulaimanya province
tried to google it but couldn't find any thing
cheers guys

[ntm_05]

and also what about the italian village Iraqi kurdistan ? i've heard so much but seen nothing..:( could someone get me more info or picture about ?

[federalist]

im happy for Iraq's development. go Iraq and let it boom..:banana:

[ntm_05]

The Central Back of Iraq stresses on zeros lopping
29 September 2008 (Iraq Directory)

The Central Bank of Iraq consultant, stressed last Wednesday, on the bank's determination to proceed with the project to delete the zeros of the Iraqi dinar to convert thousand dinars to one dinar, referring to the adoption of long-term plan for the project, which would be reluctant to the huge cash in Iraq.

Dr. Modhir Mohammad Saleh, added that "the bank will rely, in any case, on a long-term plan for the implementation of the project, in order to avoid any disruption reflected in the cash arena, which will move on based studies and slow and accurate resolution of all problems in the trading bloc committed a result of enormity of bulging cash in the Iraqi market. "

The factors of this action, which he described as very important by saying that "Iraq is one of the countries hit by hyper-inflation in more than two decades ago, reflected in monetary hyperinflation, for example, the monetary issuance increased of approximately 25 billion dinars in the early nineties, to be in 2003 Six thousand billion. "

He added, "If we add significant structural changes on the size of the budget that is the source of expansion in the monetary bloc, we can say that the country does not have the ability to stand such circulations in a large amount of cash currency units, a legacy of a hyper-inflation."

And that "many countries of the world suffered from this problem and turned their economies towards relative stability, it must find a solution to curb the enormous mass of cash to facilitate exchange of cash in Iraqi society, which mainly deal with cash money rather than the use of advanced banking payment."
He added, "This means we need urgently to the availability of substantial monetary of value and with small-scale to return to the easy system of payments and lead to facilitate transactions."

He cites the example of the saying that the category of 25 dinar in 1980 was equivalent to more than $ 75, the largest category of cash at the time, while in the highest category at present is the key category of 25 thousand dinars, and equals only $ 23. "

He added "to notice the difference .. that Iraq needs to have banknotes with high value and small size to facilitate the exchange and perform the functions of the various money."

Saleh continued of clarifying the problems impeding the performance of existing cash, saying: "One of the problems is " dollarisation "the Iraqi economy, the demand for one hundred dollars category to facilitate large transactions paid in cash, which represents about 120 thousand dinars, which means that the actual Iraqi economy needs to Category or categories of high value cash to facilitate the exchange especially in large deals. "

And about the contentment of the Bank's approach to the deletion of zeros, the central bank consultant said "the studies intend in this regard to circulate a new categories gradually and comfortably, and not limited to the replacement."

He noted that "this will give a lot of prosperity and stability in the availability of high and strong liquidity to facilitate transactions in line with the stage of growth and optimistic economic prosperity that Iraq will see in the months or years to come." He added, that "relatively long-term project would be included in the cash economy gradually that to add a lot of comfort and harmony in the economic situation."

The "trend is the deletion of three zeroes, instead of dealing with monetary issuance of $ 18 trillion dinars, our economy will deal with not more than 15 billion dinars, a mass of different categories to facilitate criticism, circulation and encourages banks to accept cash deposits."

"We know for example that one of the biggest problems at the present time the problem of counting and verification of counterfeit currency or the offense, and this burden to the banking system, and a burden on the citizen as well."

The central bank consultant concluded to say that "low cost counting and other leads to a decline in inflation by an estimated rate of 3%, resulting from the cost of cash transactions of large deals, as a citizen in Basra for example, wants to transfer funds cash to Baghdad through the category of dollar, he has to burden and costs of commissions coming from the conversion process. The cost added to the prices of transactions inevitably.

[BigDreamer]

Al Maabar eyes $500 million Iraq project (09/10/08)
Al Maabar International, a joint venture between Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate said it plans to develop a project in Iraq this year worth at least $500 million.


"We want to launch a mixed-use project in Baghdad before the end of the year...it will be a huge project worth more than $500 million," Managing Director Yousef Al Nowais told Reuters on the sidelines of a real estate exhibition in Dubai.

"People (in Iraq) need suitable houses to live in after the war has destroyed their homes and there is an effort now by Arabs to work for the stability of Iraq."

Aldar and Sorouh each own a 30 per cent stake in Al Maabar while the rest belongs to Reem Investments, Reem International and Al Qudra Holdings.

The company has projects worth $11.5 billion under development currently in Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar and Belarus.

Al Maabar was also considering development projects in Egypt and Algeria to tap North Africa's most populous countries, Nowais said. Earlier in the week, Nowais said Al Maabar plans to invest at least $1 billion in real estate projects over the next three years.

[BigDreamer]

5-star hotel in Al-Kadhimiyya to boost tourism (06/10/08)


The Baghdad Municipality has put a plan to build a first-class 5-star hotel in the holy city of al-Kadhimiyya, which is located in northwest Baghdad, in order to boost religious tourism.


Ad-Dustoor newspaper reported that the 10-storey structure will cost IQD 20 billion to build and will be set across 11,000 square metres on the west bank of the river Tigris of land, inside the July 14th park and within walking distance of the Imams Bridge and Grand Shrine.

The hotel will offer full services, and is cornerstone of the new five year urban development programme in the capital launched by Baghdad Municipality.

One of the aims of the programme is to boost religious tourism to take adcvantage of the millions of pilgrims who flock to al-Kadhimiyya, Iraq’s third holiest city, after Najaf and Kerbala, for religious occasions.

Our correspondent says that the hotel will be able to serve both Shiite and Sunni pilgrims, thanks to its close proximity to the grand mosque of “Abu Hanifah” al-Imam al-Adham, after whom al-Adhamiyya city is named, founder of one of the four major Sunni schools of law.

Also located close by is the resting place of the imams of the Sufis, which sits in the heart of Baghdad and is visited by tens of thousands of Sunnis from all over the world each year.

[Maha]

Oh my god they're destroying Baghdad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BigDreamer]

^^ LOL so you mean the war didn't destroy it already!

[sarbaze tabarestan]

so sad if u look tehran and baghdad!
after the iran iraq war we had time to rebuild iran but the poor iraqis have suffered again and again!
they have the money and the brain to rebuild their nation--the only need a period without war !
baghdad(even a persian name) and tehran should be sistercitys and iran iraq can be the germany france axes of middle east!
best luck!

[dude01]

Abu Dhabi real estate development investment company Al-Maabar has committed itself to a major new development in Baghdad, UAE's official news agency WAM reported on Sunday.

The $10 billion development, located at the Al-Rasheed Military Compound, will cover 1,250 hectares and comprise residential units, a commercial district, a technology centre, a hotel and hospitality district, health care and educational districts, and public facilities such as mosques and gas stations, WAM reported.

It is envisaged that the project will include public recreational parks, a golf course, museums and other cultural facilities such as theatres and cinemas, it added.

"The move to develop this project complements the growing levels of support that the UAE is providing to the government of Iraq. Through the direction of the Abu Dhabi leadership, Al-Maabar will add real value to the countries that it invests in," Yousef Al-Nowais, Al-Maabar's managing director was quoted as saying.

''Al-Maabar plans to achieve this through job creation and talent development, knowledge transfer and economic stimulus and will be working very closely with the relevant ministries in Iraq to insure that this project meets the specific needs of the Iraqi people," he added.

Consultants Dar Al-Handasah have been awarded the contract for creating the conceptual master plan along the guidelines set by the urban planning and municipal authorities in Baghdad.

The announcement comes a week after a surprise official visit to Baghdad by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

[dude01]

http://www.damacproperties.com/index.php?option=com_property&view=listing&id=74

C:\Users\client\Downloads\timthumb.php

[BigDreamer]

^^ here ya go :)

http://www.damacproperties.com/timthumb.php?src=http://www.damacproperties.com/media/system/project_hp_images/0e085de8e4overview-tarin-hills.jpg

[karar]

Oh my god they're destroying Baghdad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

building a five star hotel to accommodate pilgrims don't think will destroy baghdad.

[sarbaze tabarestan]

yesterday was first commercial flight from theran to baghdad!
you will earn much money from iranian pilgrims!
there should be an najaf and kerbala international airport!
once tourism spreads and security is improved its will automaticly attract investors building hotels shopping malls!
also i am proud to see our kurdish brothers developing so much which is good for iran!
its only sad thatthe sunnis in the west and center of iraq have not the best opportunitys!
your government must build industrie towns in anbar provinve and dont forget them like iranians have done in balutchistan and kurdistan region which they now try to improve!

[Maha]

building a five star hotel to accommodate pilgrims don't think will destroy baghdad.

1. Did you see the sprawl in the photos?!!!
2. An American Village?! oh for crying out loud, Baghdad has it's own style and the style is beautiful, the American one does not even work with people's lifestyle.
3. Haven't we had enough buldozing already?!
4. What piligrims in Baghdad?!! It's not Macca?! Even so, you don't need to destroy the city's history to build a hotel.

[BigDreamer]

^^ American village isnt in Baghdad.. it's in Kurdstan

[karar]

1. Did you see the sprawl in the photos?!!!

what photos u r refering to?
2. An American Village?! oh for crying out loud, Baghdad has it's own style and the style is beautiful, the American one does not even work with people's lifestyle.

i was talking about baghdad not kurdistan what american village!!!
however i agree that baghdad has its own style but it needs re construction and build new infrastructure that goes side by side with buliding new hotels

3. Haven't we had enough buldozing already?!
!!!!
4. What piligrims in Baghdad?!! It's not Macca?! Even so, you don't need to destroy the city's history to build a hotel.

i meant by piligrms the vast majority of iraqis that visit the religious places all over iraq they refer to them in the western media as piligrms not the haj piligrms, if u r an iraqi and lived in baghdad u should know what i mean lots of ppl from different sect of islam come to khadimiya to visit imam khadim.
still cant undersatnd how they can destroy the city by buliding a hotel that can have adesign that matches baghdad rich history

[Maha]

^^whatever!

[dude01]

27 October 2008 (Iraq Directory)


AlAswaq.net website had shown that DAMAC Properties the Emirates company, began from Dubai the first stages of selling real estate venture, "Tareen hills" in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan at prices ranging between 149 and 352 thousand dollars per apartment.

According to the information, the sale is limited in its first stage of project, which would be the size of investments over the development years about 15 billion dollars in the "Park Avenue" district ,one of the most active stages, including two adjoining buildings, housing units and residential real estate.
Prices and details.

The residential units consist of one bedroom and hall area ranging between 79 - 220 sq ft, and two bedrooms with hall area ranging between 113 - 263 sq ft, and three bedroom with hall area of 185 - 288 square feet.

Prices start from 149 thousand dollars for apartments, consisting of one room and hall, and up to 352 thousand dollars of flats consisting of 3 bedrooms and a hall, and prices vary according to the flat area and scope of view .The project provides each flat with car park free of charge.

This offer continues until the end of October, when prices are expected to increase with the new stages.
The sales is direct through DAMAC offices in Dubai, or through accredited agents, and procurement solutions are either to pay the full amount or installment payment into periods, and this case requires the buyer to pay 10% of the total amount as a first batch and the rest of the money in installments.

Investment opportunity
The Tarin Hills was announced in the beginning of this year in Dubai and was attended by Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Kurdistan region Nnigervan Barzani and a number of ministers and businessmen.

It is scheduled to complete the project in stages, the foundation work begins early next year, and receipt of the first stages in two years after the date of Construction commencement.

[Jayme]

^^ here ya go :)

http://www.damacproperties.com/timthumb.php?src=http://www.damacproperties.com/media/system/project_hp_images/0e085de8e4overview-tarin-hills.jpg

its so lush and green, looks like a typical suburb you find in Australia.

[BigDreamer]

^^ yea, but this is a just a render after all.. so you should take it with a grain of salt.. Hopefully we'll get real pics of the project in few months to see the real thing

[dude01]

Thi-Qar, 31 October 2008 ( Voices of Iraq )

A delegation representing a number of foreign companies has arrived in the city of al-Nassiriya on Friday for negotiations over the construction of developed housing compounds, a source from Thi-Qar’s investment authority said.

“Negotiations are underway with a German delegation representing a European group to sign a final agreement on a mechanism to build more than 10,000 housing units in the province in accordance with up-to-date specifications,” Muhammad al-Hindawi, the director of the Thi-Qar Investment Authority’s Marketing & Media Department, told Aswat al-Iraq.

This European group had laid in September 2008 the foundation stone for the construction of six apartment compounds in Thi-Qar, or 15 housing units, to be finalized in 18 months.

Work on this project has not commenced yet.

Nassiriya, the capital city of Thi-Qar province, lies 375 km south of Baghdad.

[dude01]

An Iraqi official reported that Kuwaiti, Lebanese, British, Korean, German and Swedish companies plan to start a project to set up hotels and apartment complexes in the city of Najaf (180 km) south of Baghdad. Al Sabah newspaper quoted to the Chairman of the Investment Authority in the holy city of Najaf Fadhil Al Fadhily as saying that the body received 29 investment projects submitted by Iraqi, Arab and universal companies.

While four investment contracts were awarded, including two agreements of five stars and four stars tourist hotels to a Lebanese investor and other contract of Al Najaf international airport project and contracts for the establishment of 8000 housing units to a Kuwaiti –British company.

The «memorandum of understanding was signed between the Civil Administration and the Korean delegation which already met in Arbil for the establishment of a tourist hotel at Al Najaf airport and 1000 housing units of ready construction using partitions contain thermal insulation, that the establishment of a housing unit needs no longer than two weeks and cost between 40 - 54 Thousand dollars on an area of 200 square meters, note that the actual need of al Najaf is 120 thousand housing units currently ».

Fadli said that the establishment project of the new city of Najaf worth 38 billion dollars and the investment duration of 10 years, was submitted to the Council of Ministers for consideration because it is beyond the competence of the Commission, it is also considering a proposal to Iraqi expatriates investors in Germany to establish drugs laboratory by Iraqi- German capital and Swedish- German experience »

[dude01]

why is the Iraqi Projects Forum so boring and no one add's up something ? GOSH Iraqis where the hell are you ??? post some projects about iraq..make fun to read and proud of your country.

[BigDreamer]

^^ LOL

It's because it's hard to get material to post.. most people who post on this thread are not living in Iraq, so we cant get new pictures or video clips of projects that are going on right now. It's not really a matter of not being proud or anything, just a matter of access.

I usually try to post as much as I can, whenever I read an interesting piece of news relating to skyscrapers or urbanity etc..

[dude01]

where are you from BigDreamer ?

[vivaCITY]

Hello,

I'm an urban planning student in California and am interested in the changes in population, infrastructure, and development happening in Iraq's cities currently. This thread has been a very informative start. I'm also very interested in finding:
1. reports about urban migration to/from cities during the current war
2. information about public transportation, private vehicle transportation, etc.
3. information about the nature of in Iraq's cities and who funds them.
4. housing market indicators
5. how urban planning and development happens there
6. how the American military presence is affecting development and planning

I would really appreciate any and all information you can share with me on these points. You respond to my post or just email me directly at colinhughes@berkeley.edu

Thanks!

[BigDreamer]

where are you from BigDreamer ?

I'm living in Auckland, New Zeland. But I was born in Baghdad. What about you? :)

[dude01]

Well i was born in Dubai and Raised in Montreal, Canada and I am Iraqi also ( My both Parents are born In Baghdad Also) btw i went to iraq in 2004 ..I LOVED IT

[BigDreamer]

^^ Oh that's pretty awesome !

Do you have any pics from your visit in 2004? where did you go exactly?

I haven't been back since I left right after the first gulf war :( but I wanna pay a visit when things settle down abit more..

[dude01]

^^ Oh that's pretty awesome !

Do you have any pics from your visit in 2004? where did you go exactly?

I haven't been back since I left right after the first gulf war :( but I wanna pay a visit when things settle down abit more..


no unfortunately i didn't had the chance for pics, it was too dangerous and you didn't want to be looked as a tourist ..it was my first time in Iraq and i hope ill go there next year.

[BigDreamer]

Iraq earmarks $3 billion for Baghdad subway

BAGHDAD: Iraq plans to build a subway in Baghdad to help cut pollution and ease traffic on the city's chronically clogged streets.

Baghdad Mayor Sabir al-Issawi said in statement released Monday that Iraq's Cabinet has earmarked $3 billion for the project.

The subway is the first in Baghdad and will have two lines.

One would run 11 miles from Shiite-dominated Sadr City in the east to the predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah in northern Baghdad.

The second line would be cover 13 miles and link the mixed neighborhoods of central Baghdad to the primarily Sunni western suburbs. Both lines will have 20 stations.

[dude01]

GO BAGHDAD GO!!

[Soballe]

GO BAGHDAD GO!!

Dude I don't know if you've been to this website but there is more info about Iraq including pics...

http://aliraqi.org/

[BigDreamer]

^^ i cant find anything relating to skyscrapers / projects on that website, maybe you can give us a direct link to some of the projects?

[Soballe]

http://aliraqi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=84063&page=31

look through these pages

[BigDreamer]

Baghdad subway map:

http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11_24/baghdad_subway.jpg