BP and the Iraqi government have reached a comprehensive agreement to invest $25 billion in the redevelopment of four significant oil and gas fields in Kirkuk. This strategic partnership aims to enhance Iraq's oil production capacity and modernize its energy infrastructure, marking a pivotal step in the country's economic development.

Iraq's Ministry of Justice has announced its victory in a $1 billion arbitration dispute brought by the German firm AHG over a failed investment project. The ruling, delivered by an international tribunal, underscores the strength of Iraq’s legal defense and its growing confidence in handling cross-border disputes.

Iraq's non-oil sector experienced a 5% GDP growth in 2024, with expectations of a 4% increase in 2025, attributed to advancements in agriculture and public spending, as reported by the Finance Minister and supported by IMF findings.

The Iraqi Ministry of Transport has officially handed over detailed cadastral maps to four southern provinces—Dhi Qar, Muthanna, Diwaniyah, and Basra—as a strategic step to accelerate implementation of the Development Road Project. These documents will enable local governments to initiate land acquisition procedures essential for launching one of Iraq’s most ambitious infrastructure initiatives.

On May 16, 2025, Iraq’s Minister of Electricity inaugurated the expansion of the West Baghdad Power Station from 1250 MVA to 1500 MVA, a key move to reduce grid congestion in western Baghdad and Fallujah. The upgrade supports the government’s 2025 Summer Preparedness Plan and reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to modernize its energy infrastructure.

The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has announced a significant initiative to promote the adoption of solar energy in homes. A new proposal under review aims to eliminate loan interest for citizens installing solar power systems, alongside a simplified application process and extended repayment terms. This step marks a key move toward sustainable energy and easing the burden on Iraq's national grid.

On April 1, 2025, Iraq officially activated the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) system, marking a significant milestone in the nation's efforts to modernize its trade and transport sectors. This development positions Iraq as a pivotal trade hub in the Middle East, promising reduced transit times, lower costs, and streamlined customs procedures.

Iraq is making significant strides toward a sustainable energy future. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has announced the establishment of the Carbon Economy Company and the launch of the nation's first International Conference on Carbon Economics. These initiatives aim to attract global investment, reduce carbon emissions, and diversify Iraq's energy sector by embracing renewable sources and innovative environmental strategies.

Opening a branch office is a rapid, capital-efficient way for an international company to enter a new market. Because the branch remains part of the parent company’s legal personality, all liabilities, taxes, and compliance duties flow directly back to headquarters. This article explains—without marketing embellishment—the exact concept of the foreign branch, the worldwide legal frameworks that govern it, the standard documentation every jurisdiction requires, the tax and accounting consequences of “permanent establishment” status, and the practical advantages and risks that executives must weigh before they file.

As part of its annual fisheries enhancement strategy, Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture has released 250,000 fingerlings of carp species into the Tigris River in northern Baghdad. This initiative aims to strengthen national food security, diversify income sources, and preserve native fish biodiversity, while supporting the country’s aquaculture development.

Iraq is rapidly evolving into a strategic business hub. Fuelled by high oil revenues, bold infrastructure programs, improved governance, and a dynamic non‑oil sector, the country offers unique advantages—from access to regional markets to development incentives. This article highlights the key drivers that make Iraq a compelling destination for global investors.

Iraq has officially rolled out the TIR international transit system across all its border crossings, aiming to strengthen its trade capabilities and regional connectivity. The system is expected to enhance Iraq’s position in global commerce and support infrastructure development as part of a broader strategic vision.

The UK’s new DMCC Act, effective April 2025, gives the CMA power to fine firms up to 10 % of global turnover for consumer‑law breaches without court action, applies extraterritorially to any business affecting UK consumers and has already reshaped enforcement in cases such as Amazon’s fake‑review probe. Firms worldwide must adopt proactive compliance or face swift, severe penalties.

Saudi Aramco, officially known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the world’s largest integrated oil and gas company. Founded in 1933 and fully owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Aramco has developed into a global leader in energy production, refining, petrochemicals, and gas development. With massive reserves, unmatched production capacity, and financial dominance, the company is pivotal to global energy security and the economic ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Basra Oil Company (BOC) — a wholly state‑owned entity under Iraq’s Ministry of Oil — dominates domestic oil output and export operations from the country’s southern super‑giant fields. Based in Basra and controlling assets like Rumaila and Majnoon, BOC directs more than 80% of Iraq’s total oil production and export capacity, including nearly all cargoes shipped from southern ports. The company also co‑leads major infrastructure projects like the 4.56 billion USD Basrah–Haditha pipeline approved in December 2024. With an annual capacity to add 200,000 bpd if requested by OPEC, BOC remains the unrivaled anchor of Iraq’s hydrocarbon sector. (Data current as of mid‑2025.)

Commercial Law (also known as Business or Mercantile Law) governs the rules, rights, and obligations associated with trade, transactions, and commerce. In contrast, Corporate Law (or Company Law) deals with the internal structure, governance, and legal lifecycle of corporate entities. Although both fields intersect, their core foci are distinct: one regulates how businesses engage in the marketplace, the other governs how companies are constituted, managed, and dissolved.

Despite its challenges, Iraq is re-emerging as a frontier market rich in untapped potential—thanks to generous investment incentives, strategic infrastructure projects, and growing economic stability. This article highlights five compelling reasons why foreign investors should consider Iraq as a high-opportunity destination.

The Iraqi Ministry of Planning has announced ambitious revenue targets within its 2024–2028 five-year development plan, projecting a total of IQD 710 trillion in revenues. The majority will stem from the oil sector, while non-oil revenues will contribute significantly to diversifying the economy. The plan also outlines substantial investment allocations to achieve targeted economic growth and sectoral development.

Patent and industrial design registration in Iraq is regulated by Law No. 65 of 1970, which sets clear rules for eligibility, novelty, and ownership. This article explains who can apply, the legal requirements for protecting inventions and designs, and the penalties for infringement—offering innovators, businesses, and institutions a complete guide to safeguarding their intellectual property in Iraq.

The Baghdad International Energy Forum (BIEF), hosted under the patronage of Iraq’s Ministry of Oil and the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), will convene in Baghdad on 6–7 September 2025. As Iraq’s flagship energy event, the forum serves as a strategic platform for dialogue on global energy markets, the energy transition, sustainability, and regional cooperation. With participation from OPEC, the International Energy Forum (IEF), the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), and executives from major oil and gas companies such as BP, TotalEnergies, Chevron, Eni, and Shell, the BIEF underscores Iraq’s pivotal role as a bridge between producers and consumers in securing future energy stability.

This article examines international commercial arbitration as the preferred mechanism for resolving global business disputes, outlining its legal foundations, advantages, challenges, and leading arbitral institutions. It also explores the digital transformation in arbitration and its implications for efficiency and legal security.

This article explores the global evolution of data protection and privacy, starting from the GDPR and extending to international laws in the US, Asia, and the Middle East. It highlights the key challenges businesses face in compliance and the future trends toward harmonized global standards.

On 23 July 2025, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark advisory opinion clarifying states’ binding obligations under international law to combat climate change. The Court emphasized the duty to prevent serious environmental harm with heightened due diligence, the obligation of international cooperation, and the integration of human rights into climate action. Failure to comply may constitute an internationally wrongful act, opening the door to liability and reparations. This opinion will influence policy-making, corporate compliance, and climate litigation worldwide.

This article analyzes the global shift from hourly billing to fixed fees and value-based legal services. It explains how these models enhance client trust, drive competition with ALSPs and Big Four firms, and highlight the need for compliance with transparency rules in the UK and ABA ethical standards in the US.

This article examines the global legal recognition of blockchain-based smart contracts, highlighting frameworks like the UK ETDA 2023, UNCITRAL MLETR, and the EU Data Act. It explores key business opportunities in trade finance, supply chain management, and the data economy, while assessing compliance challenges such as human override requirements, code–law conflicts, and uneven cross-border adoption.

As privacy regulations proliferate, companies doing business internationally face legal obligations far beyond their home jurisdiction. This article discusses GDPR’s extraterritorial reach, key compliance obligations (data transfers, breach notification, local representation), business impacts (fines, reputation, contracts), and strategies to operationalize cross-border data protection compliance in 2025.

This article examines how emerging AI regulation—especially the EU AI Act—is reshaping compliance obligations for financial services institutions such as banks and fintechs. It outlines governance, transparency, validation, and reporting requirements, assesses key benefits and risks, and lays out strategic steps for firms to safeguard compliance and competitive advantage.

As the global economy becomes increasingly digitized, traditional tax frameworks struggle to capture value generated by multinational tech firms operating without physical presence. Unilateral digital services taxes (DSTs) have proliferated, but carry risks of double taxation and trade conflict. The OECD/G20’s two-pillar solution—reallocating taxing rights (Pillar One) and enforcing a minimum tax (Pillar Two) offers a multilateral pathway to reform. This article overviews the issues, the proposed solutions, and key implementation hurdles.

Comprehensive guide on how to register oil companies in Iraq under the applicable laws and regulations, including legal requirements, Ministry of Oil licensing, and compliance obligations. Prepared by Hamurabi Iraq’s legal experts.

Trademark registration in Iraq is a fundamental legal step for any business aiming to secure its commercial identity and prevent infringement in a rapidly developing market. The process is governed by Trademark Law No. (21) of 1957 (as amended) and supervised by the Trademarks Office of the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) under the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. Applicants must submit a complete set of documents — including a clear mark sample, applicant details, classification of goods and services, and legalized power of attorney — to obtain protection valid for ten years, renewable indefinitely. Foreign entities can register their marks directly or through authorized representatives in Iraq, while local enforcement measures ensure strong protection against counterfeiting and unauthorized use. By understanding and following the Iraqi trademark procedures, businesses can safeguard their intellectual property and establish a lasting commercial presence in one of the region’s most strategically significant markets. Hamurabi Iraq Law Firm provides comprehensive legal support for trademark registration, renewal, opposition, and enforcement, ensuring full compliance with Iraqi laws and international conventions.

Trademark registration in Iraq is a fundamental legal step for any business aiming to secure its commercial identity and prevent infringement in a rapidly developing market. The process is governed by Trademark Law No. (21) of 1957 (as amended) and supervised by the Trademarks Office of the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) under the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. Applicants must submit a complete set of documents — including a clear mark sample, applicant details, classification of goods and services, and legalized power of attorney — to obtain protection valid for ten years, renewable indefinitely. Foreign entities can register their marks directly or through authorized representatives in Iraq, while local enforcement measures ensure strong protection against counterfeiting and unauthorized use. By understanding and following the Iraqi trademark procedures, businesses can safeguard their intellectual property and establish a lasting commercial presence in one of the region’s most strategically significant markets. Hamurabi Iraq Law Firm provides comprehensive legal support for trademark registration, renewal, opposition, and enforcement, ensuring full compliance with Iraqi laws and international conventions.

This article outlines the legal and procedural framework for establishing factories in Iraq, highlighting the governing laws such as the Investment Law No. (13) of 2006 and the Companies Law No. (21) of 1997. It provides a step-by-step guide to registration, licensing, and available incentives for industrial investors, along with key compliance obligations and legal advice to ensure sustainable and lawful operations under Iraqi legislation.

This article provides an in-depth examination of Iraq’s accelerating transition toward integrated gas and power development, particularly through the Integrated South Project / Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP). Between 2024 and 2025, the federal government initiated a shift from policy announcements to sequential execution, supported by binding contracts, reinforced regulatory frameworks, and cross-sectoral coordination between the Ministry of Oil, the Ministry of Electricity, and the Prime Minister’s Office. The analysis highlights infrastructure components such as gas capture and processing, the Artawi oilfield expansion, the national seawater treatment project, and complementary solar capacity, alongside legal considerations under Iraq’s Investment Law No. 13 of 2006. The article concludes by mapping risks, economic returns, and the investment window available through 2025–2027 for stakeholders in the oil, gas, and power sectors.

The Iraqi Companies Law No. 21 of 1997 (as amended in 2004) forms the backbone of corporate regulation in Iraq. It governs company formation, management, capital structure, governance, and liquidation, while aiming to protect creditors, enhance transparency, and promote a market-oriented economy. This legal framework is indispensable for investors and corporate entities operating in the Iraqi private sector.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal scope of trademark protection in Iraq, examining the governing legislative framework, territorial and substantive limits, duration of protection, exclusive rights of trademark owners, statutory limitations, and enforcement mechanisms. It demonstrates that, following legislative reforms, Iraqi trademark law has achieved a notable level of conformity with international standards while maintaining regulatory features adapted to the Iraqi commercial and legal environment.

This article explores the practical differences between establishing a local company and opening a branch in Iraq, offering foreign investors clear guidance to select the most appropriate structure for their business objectives.

This article examines the key factors that make Iraq’s energy sector highly attractive to Asian companies, including resource abundance, high production levels, opportunities in associated gas and refining, and the importance of legal risk management.

This article explains the official legal framework governing the trade of Iraqi crude oil, focusing on the constitutional foundation, the exclusive role of the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), qualification procedures, and essential contractual considerations for foreign companies.

Legal risk management is a critical component in the success of oil, gas, and energy projects due to the complexity of contractual frameworks, the multiplicity of stakeholders, and the dynamic regulatory and environmental landscape. This article examines the key legal risks associated with this sector—including contractual, regulatory, and environmental risks—along with best-practice legal strategies to mitigate these risks, minimize disputes, and safeguard long-term investments.

The Iraqi Securities Commission has launched an ambitious strategic plan aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of the domestic capital market, particularly for foreign investors. The plan is built on three core pillars: simplifying operational and legal procedures to accelerate and increase the flexibility of the investment process; strengthening the protection of investors’ rights through the application of international best practices; and providing advanced electronic platforms that ensure a secure and transparent investment environment. These initiatives, which form part of a broader effort to deepen the market and diversify investment instruments, seek to position Iraq on the map of attractive financial hubs in the region, thereby opening new investment horizons that support the momentum of the national economy. The success of this strategy depends on translating the announced directions into clear, enforceable regulatory mechanisms that reinforce confidence and achieve sustainable growth.

The article addresses the legal framework and practical steps for company formation in Iraq, clarifying that the process is not a mere formality but a precise legal path that begins with the founders' agreement, subscription to capital, and its deposit with a licensed bank. It highlights the role of the Founders' Committee in joint-stock companies and their extended responsibilities until the first board of directors is elected. The article reviews the official application stage, where the application is decided upon within ten days, and a certificate of incorporation is granted, which confers legal personality upon the company. It also details the guarantees afforded to founders in the event of application rejection, ranging from a reasoned refusal decision to the right to object before the Minister of Commerce and then before the judiciary, with the possibility of submitting a new application after remedying the grounds for rejection. This guide constitutes a clear roadmap for investors to build business entities grounded in legal certainty.

This article examines the current landscape of green investment and renewable energy technologies in Iraq from a legal and investment perspective, with a focus on solar energy opportunities, green financing, contracts, licensing, and the management of regulatory risks. It explains that the success of renewable energy projects in Iraq requires a clear legal framework and specialized advisory services to protect investors and ensure compliance.

This article traces the development of trade relations between Iraq and Syria from 8 December 2024 to 12 June 2026, beginning with the closure of the Al-Qaim crossing after the fall of the Assad regime, moving through the phase of political efforts to reopen the borders, and then the resumption of trade and passenger movement through Al-Qaim/Al-Bukamal in June 2025. The article highlights 2026 as the year of logistical transformation, marked by the opening of the Al-Walid/Al-Tanf and Rabia/Al-Yarubiyah crossings, the launch of documented shipments of oil, fuel, and cement, and the passage of regional transit shipments. It concludes that the relationship evolved from trade disruption into a multi-crossing network, despite the absence of published official figures for the total volume of trade exchange during the period.

This article examines the development of the goods trade balance between France and Iraq during the 2020–2026 period, based on official French data. It explains France’s transition from a limited surplus in 2020 to a continuing trade deficit since 2021, which reached its peak in 2024 before declining partially in 2025. This deficit is primarily linked to the increase in France’s imports of Iraqi crude oil and petroleum products, compared with diversified French exports that include pharmaceutical, chemical, food, machinery, and equipment products. The article also presents the latest partial data available through April 2026, which confirm the continuation of France’s trade deficit with Iraq and the dominance of the energy sector in French imports.