Member of Parliament Mudhar Al-Karoui acknowledged on Thursday (May 7, 2026) that the idea of establishing a new administrative capital for Iraq was proposed nearly nine years ago, but faltered due to turbulent security and political conditions, despite everyone's realization of its strategic importance in the long term.
Al-Karoui explained that the project's exorbitant costs, along with political instability, formed a major obstacle to its implementation, prompting successive governments to postpone it until clear funding and a comprehensive implementation plan become available.
He pointed out that the capital Baghdad suffers from excessive population density exceeding nine million people, making the idea of an administrative capital an urgent necessity for redistributing government institutions and alleviating the great urban pressure.
He noted that regional and international experiences in establishing new administrative capitals, such as Egypt's experience, could be an inspiring model for Iraq, despite differences in financial and technical capabilities.
For his part, Engineer Abdul Rahim Al-Shammari confirmed that Baghdad's urban design has become obsolete, especially after the major transformations the city witnessed since 2003, which necessitates serious thinking about a modern urban alternative.
