Iraq housing investments concentrated on high-income buyers, former lawmaker says

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's long-running housing crisis continues to weigh on low- and middle-income citizens, with rapid population growth and limited supply keeping ownership out of reach for many, a former member of parliament's Services Commission said. Baqir al-Saidi, who previously served on the commission, said roughly 97 to 98 percent of approved investment licenses for new housing complexes and vertical development projects in Baghdad and other cities are directed at high-income buyers, a pattern he said is pushing prices further upward. Al-Saidi called for new residential zones on the outskirts of major cities and for licensing of lower-cost housing projects, arguing that current investment priorities are shaped by company profit motives rather than demand from lower-income households. He said the imbalance is a key factor behind persistent affordability gaps across the country. Specialists contacted by the outlet said a sustainable housing policy will require balancing investment incentives with the production of affordable units, and that expanding residential areas should be paired with adequate infrastructure and basic services to ease pressure on city centers. No new government measures on affordable housing were announced in the report.