Iraqi News Agency: Iraq’s Ministry of Construction and Housing has approved the design for a new city to be developed by Egyptian firm Ora Developers, owned by tycoon Naguib Sawiris. The city, named after the late Iraqi sociologist Ali Al-Wardi, will accommodate over 700,000 people.
Awarded the contract a year ago, Ora Developers will soon commence work on the project, following official approval from Construction and Housing Minister Benkin Rikani on Monday. The development will feature 120,000 housing units on a 61-square-kilometre site, located 25 km southeast of Baghdad and 74 km from Baghdad Airport.
According to the ministry, Ali Al-Wardi City is the largest residential project within Iraq’s government initiative to address the housing crisis. The contract details were not disclosed, but officials previously stated that the city, along with four other urban developments, would be awarded on an investment basis—meaning developers will construct and sell the housing units.
Faced with budget constraints, Iraq has turned to investment contracts, following a financial dispute with South Korea’s Hanwha Company over the Bismaya City residential project. Hanwha, which halted work in 2023 due to alleged payment defaults, resumed construction in late 2024 after reaching a financial agreement with the government.
In early 2024, the ministry announced plans to attract investors for five additional residential projects in Baghdad, Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Anbar. Ali Al-Sanafi, president of the Iraqi Contractors’ Federation, highlighted Iraq’s urgent need for at least 3 million new homes to bridge the housing shortfall, exacerbated by rapid population growth and a lack of large-scale developments.
Al-Iqtisad News reported that Ali Al-Wardi City will include extensive green spaces, infrastructure for power and water, roads, schools, hospitals, and shopping centers.
