At a Glance

• The Iraqi dinar continues to face pressure and instability against the US dollar in local markets.

• Central Bank spokesperson Mahmoud Dagher says Iraq has sufficient dollar reserves to meet demand.

• He confirms that new cash dollar shipments have arrived in Iraq and are being distributed to airports across the country, including those in the Kurdistan Region.

• The Central Bank of Iraq has increased the cash dollar quota for travelers from $2,000 to $3,000.

The Central Bank of Iraq has sought to reassure the public over dollar availability, saying new cash shipments have reached the country and are being sent to airports in the Kurdistan Region to meet travelers’ needs, as the Iraqi dinar continues to face pressure in the currency market.

Key Statements and Focus Areas

Travelers’ Cash Dollar Quota Increased to $3,000

Central Bank spokesperson Mahmoud Dagher told Channel8 that the arrival of new dollar shipments enabled the bank to increase the cash dollar quota available to travelers from $2,000 to $3,000.

The increase is intended to facilitate travelers' access to cash dollars through the official banking system.

CBI Assures Dollar Availability

Dagher said the Central Bank has substantial dollar reserves and is managing their use according to demand and institutional requirements.

“The Central Bank of Iraq has very good dollar reserves available. We use them according to our needs.”

Dollar Shipments Sent to Kurdistan Airports

Asked about the arrival of dollars at Erbil International Airport and Sulaimani’s Jalal Talabani International Airport, Dagher confirmed that shipments had reached airports across Iraq and were also being sent to the Kurdistan Region.

“The dollars have reached Iraq’s airports and are being sent to the airports in the Kurdistan Region so that travelers using those two airports can benefit.”

The Central Bank of Iraq has raised the cash dollar quota for travelers from $2,000 to $3,000 following the arrival of new dollar shipments in the country.

Speaking to Channel8 on Wednesday, CBI spokesperson Mahmoud Dagher said the bank has sufficient dollar reserves and is allocating them according to its requirements. He linked the increase in the travel quota to the arrival of additional cash dollars.

Dagher also confirmed that the shipments have reached Iraqi airports and are being distributed to airports in the Kurdistan Region, including Erbil International Airport and Sulaimani’s Jalal Talabani International Airport. The distribution is intended to allow travelers departing from both airports to benefit from the increased quota.

The announcement comes as the Iraqi dinar continues to face pressure in the parallel currency market, where the dollar has traded above the official exchange rate. The increased cash quota provides travelers with greater access to dollars through authorized channels, while the Central Bank's assurances are intended to address concerns over the availability of foreign currency.

However, the increase in the travel quota and the availability of dollars at airports do not, by themselves, indicate that the gap between the official and parallel exchange rates has narrowed.

FYI

Iraq operates an official foreign-exchange system through which the Central Bank supplies dollars for approved purposes, including international trade and travelers' needs. Access to cash dollars is particularly important for citizens traveling abroad, while the parallel-market exchange rate remains sensitive to demand, speculation and confidence in official distribution channels. The latest increase from $2,000 to $3,000 expands the amount available to eligible travelers, but its wider impact on currency-market stability will depend on consistent dollar distribution and continued access through authorized channels.

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