Iraq will create fifteen new cities nationwide

Iraq has given the green light to plans to establish 15 additional residential cities spanning various governorates in response to the housing crisis following the aftermath of war, reports Zawya, citing the official Arabic language daily Alsabah.

The initial report quoted a Iraqi Construction and Housing Ministry spokesman, Nabil Al-Saffar, who said the new cities would be linked by a network of motorways and other facilities and comprise “university cities.” “The ministry has approved the construction of 15 cities in various governorates in Iraq…we expect that within five to six years, these cities will be completed,” he said.

Official estimates from the ministry indicate a pressing need for at least four million homes within the next five years to alleviate the housing shortage exacerbated by political and economic instability, coupled with significant population growth. While designs for five of the proposed cities have already been finalized, the blueprints for the remaining ten are open for consideration by potential developers. One of these new cities is slated to be built near the former Sadr City, previously known as Saddam City, with initial designs spearheaded by a consortium comprising three Arab companies.