Kurdistan airports to offer official dollar exchange rate for travelers

Travelers in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region will soon have access to US dollars at the official exchange rate when departing from Erbil and Al-Sulaymaniyah international airports. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has approved the initiative after a formal request by Iraqi lawmaker Rebwar Karim. According to Karim, branches will open at both airports in the coming days, allowing travelers to purchase up to $2,000 at the official rate of 1,320 dinars per dollar.

The official rate is significantly lower than the parallel market rate, which stood at about 1,630 dinars per dollar on Tuesday. Economists have noted that dollars sold at the official rate for travel, study, and medical treatment often end up on the parallel market, where they are resold for a profit.