By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reportedly ruled that banks may disburse customers' dollar-denominated deposits in cash, effective 15 July 2026. According to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), a CBI circular sets out the following provisions: Banks may continue to open foreign-currency accounts for customers, with customers entitled to withdraw […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has issued new regulatory instructions governing the mechanism for meeting foreign currency demand for citizens travelling abroad, reducing the monthly cash allowance for an adult traveller to $2,000, down from $3,000. According to the CBI, the move forms part of a package of regulatory reforms aimed […]
From The New York Times. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. U.S. Resumes Dollar Transfers to Iraq After Monthslong Suspension The Trump administration had halted the shipments to Iraq as part of its efforts to pressure the Baghdad government to distance itself […]
By John Lee. A number of banks previously restricted from conducting dollar transactions have now completed the requirements of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI)'s reform plan and met the relevant supervisory and technical standards, including strengthening their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks. The CBI said the reinstatement of these banks to foreign currency […]
By Hayder Aziz. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Cylinder Seal: A Sovereign Digital Currency Engine for Iraq's Non-Oil Economy Abstract Iraq's economy faces a deeply interconnected set of problems: a vast informal workforce invisible to the financial system, a crushing 14:1 […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has confirmed that all requests for US dollars from banks and exchange companies have been fully met, covering pilgrims, travellers, and external transfers. The bank stated that authorised exchange companies permitted to sell dollars to travellers and pilgrims are listed on its official website, ensuring regulated […]
By Mustafa Saadoon, for Al Hurra. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Exclusive: U.S. Moves Against Iran-Aligned Factions in Iraq Two government sources working in the Iraqi Council of Ministers confirmed to Alhurra that "the United States has halted dollar shipments to […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced a series of measures to address issues affecting Iraqi banks restricted from dealing in US dollars. In remarks reported by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), Ahmed Dawood Salman, Director of Transfers at the CBI, said the bank is working with international audit firms, […]
By John Lee. In his latest monthly investment report for Iraq Business News, Ahmed Tabaqchali shows that the gap between the parallel and official exchange rates for the Iraqi dinar (IQD) had already been rising before the U.S.-Israel war on Iran started, due to domestic customs policy changes making it harder for informal importers to […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has warned citizens of fraudulent schemes involving counterfeit and non-circulating banknotes designed to defraud victims for financial gain. In a statement, the CBI outlined several common methods currently observed in Iraq: "$1,000,000" banknotes sold as legal tender, despite being commemorative notes with no monetary value. The […]
By John Lee. [Editor's Note: On 26th February, the Central Bank updated the list of banks restricted from dealing in US dollars, apparently to correct an error, without making a new announcement. The list below has been updated accordingly.] The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced updated lists of banks and companies prohibited from […]
By John Lee. Ahmed Tabaqchali of AFC Iraq Fund (and Expert Blogger on Iraq Business News) was interviewed this week on the Youtube channel Majlis & Markets, examining the true state of Iraq's economy, including stability since 2019, the Iraqi dinar (IQD), de-dollarisation, banking sector challenges, fintech growth, tokenisation, the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) and […]
