$90 billion in the shadows: Iraq searches for a map of its forgotten treasure
5/27/2025
From Mogadishu to Madrid, from tea plantations in Vietnam to Mediterranean palaces in Cannes, France, the specter of lost Iraqi property, estimated to be worth at least $90 billion, lingers. But this wealth, once a tool of influence and investment, is now a forgotten treasure tucked away in unarchived files, undocumented contracts, and unnamed properties.
In a rare moment of astonishment and diplomacy, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud surprised the Arab League summit hosted by Baghdad in May 2025 when he revealed that a major Iraqi oil refinery still exists on the outskirts of the capital, Mogadishu.
The refinery, established in 1978 as part of an official agreement between the Iraqi and Somali governments, had disappeared from official Iraqi memory since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. But this incident was only the tip of the iceberg of a broader, more complex issue: the issue of Iraqi assets scattered around the world, lost to the state over two decades in silence that paralleled their economic importance.
More than fifty origins on three continents
Information obtained by Shafaq News Agency from senior diplomatic sources indicates that Iraq has at least 50 real estate and investment projects spread across Europe, Asia, and Africa, including luxurious palaces, farms, banks, commercial offices, and strategic factories.
In Europe alone, Baghdad owns real estate assets in Spain, France, the UK, and Italy, some of which are located in luxury locations such as Cannes. In Asia, assets include tea, rice, rubber, and tobacco plantations in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. In Africa, assets in Somalia, Nigeria, and Mozambique include tourist islands and agricultural factories.
These assets were part of Iraq's expansionist economic policy during the 1970s and 1980s, when it used oil revenues to purchase strategic assets around the world to bolster its economic and diplomatic standing.
However, after the fall of the regime in 2003, this issue entered a cycle of neglect and loss. The Parliamentary Integrity Committee revealed to Shafaq News that essential ownership documents had been stolen or destroyed, and that some properties had been transferred to the names of individuals or fictitious companies affiliated with the former regime or networks linked to it, while others remained without any significant follow-up.
Mozambique incident: The state clashes with weapons
In 2012,
the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a delegation to Mozambique to inspect a state-owned asset there, believed to be a palace on a tourist island once owned by Iraq. However, the trip was never completed.
According to a diplomatic source who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, the delegation members received direct threats from an armed group controlling the site, forcing them to immediately withdraw from the country.
This was one of the first serious attempts to recover Iraqi property abroad, but it ended in failure, leaving the property under the control of parties that do not recognize Baghdad's ownership.
Mogadishu Refinery: A Moment of Awakening
But the surprise announcement of the Mogadishu refinery has reshuffled the cards. According to what the Somali presidency conveyed to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the refinery is still standing and only requires technical rehabilitation to return it to operation, at a time when Somalia is beginning to discover offshore oil reserves.
Baghdad's shock at this revelation prompted the government to form specialized legal and technical committees to pursue this forgotten issue, not only in Somalia but in all countries that may contain lost property. The Ministries of Oil, Foreign Affairs, and Justice were tasked with coordinating efforts, including re-registering properties, settling their tax status, and verifying the validity of remaining documents.
International law experts surveyed by Shafaq News Agency suggested resorting to the International Court of Justice or concluding bilateral agreements with the concerned countries to establish Iraq's legal rights to these properties.
They also stressed the need to pursue individuals and entities proven to be involved in the transfer or concealment of such assets, whether inside or outside Iraq, by issuing international arrest warrants and working with Interpol if sufficient evidence is available.
In a country facing mounting economic challenges and declining foreign exchange resources, many experts consider this a major financial opportunity that has been neglected for years.
Initial estimates place the value of these assets at between $80 and $90 billion. Economists believe that recovering even a small portion of them or investing them properly could generate sustainable revenues for a country whose budget relies almost exclusively on crude oil exports.
However, despite recent positive indicators, challenges remain. According to legal experts, some assets may be subject to statutes of limitations in host countries or have been subject to legal actions that have legalized ownership by third parties after Iraq's absence from the scene for two decades.
In addition, there is a fear that internal political interference could hinder recovery efforts, especially if current properties are tied to powerful interests or are linked to old contracts that are difficult to cancel without engaging in complex legal disputes.LINK
THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRAQ LAUNCHES THE FIRST NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION.
The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) launched its first National Financial Inclusion Strategy for the period 2025-2029.
The strategy includes an integrated framework for financial inclusion aimed at enabling all individuals and businesses to access the financial sector and use appropriate and safe financial services while protecting their rights, thus contributing to economic and social development.
In his speech, His Excellency the Governor of the CBI, Mr. Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, emphasized that the CBI attaches great importance to promoting financial inclusion in Iraq, as well as cooperation at the regional, Arab, and international levels. The CBI has worked with international partners to develop a financial inclusion strategy in accordance with international best practices,
in partnership with the World Bank Group, the Arab Monetary Fund, the Global Financial Inclusion Alliance, and the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ), in addition to local partners from public and private bodies and agencies.
The CBI is working to achieve a number of goals, including increasing the percentage of bank accounts, enhancing consumer protection for those dealing with the financial sector, using the latest electronic payment methods, and developing infrastructure and regulations to enhance financial inclusion.
AL-ALAQ: WE ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING THE DELETION OF ZEROS FROM THE DINAR, AND THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON OUR BALANCES IN AMERICA
(A blast from the past: from Sept 23, 2024)
The Central Bank of Iraq has reduced reliance on the US dollar in commercial transactions, according to the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, adding that the project to remove zeros in Iraq is under continuous review and study at the bank.
Countries remove zeros from their currency to revalue their national currency and simplify financial transactions. This is done by removing a specific number of zeros from the nominal value of the currency, making it appear less inflationary and more stable.
Al-Alaq confirmed, in an extensive interview with Al Jazeera Net, which was reviewed by “Al-Eqtisad News”, that the Central Bank responded to global economic challenges, such as rising energy and raw material prices, by amending some monetary policies in line with the international situation and to enhance confidence in the Iraqi dinar and prevent a sharp decline in its value.
He also stressed that the Central Bank of Iraq increased its holdings of foreign exchange and gold reserves to strengthen the country’s financial position and financial stability in order to enhance its ability to confront potential economic crises. These are the details of the dialogue:
What steps have you taken to address the crisis of the dollar’s rise against the Iraqi dinar and reduce the gap between the official price and the black market price?
The Central Bank of Iraq has created new mechanisms to cover the accounts of local banks with their senders in other currencies (Chinese yuan, Indian rupee, euro and UAE dirham) in addition to the dollar, which has reduced reliance on the US currency in commercial transactions for the clients of these banks, as the Central Bank seeks to withdraw excess liquidity in the economy that puts pressure on the exchange rate and to prevent the exported currency from growing in an undesirable manner.
What is the status of the country’s foreign reserves?
Foreign exchange reserves are the tool used by all central banks to maintain the stability of the local currency exchange rate against foreign currencies, as well as to reduce exposure to external crises by maintaining liquidity in foreign currency to absorb shocks in times of crisis.
The Central Bank of Iraq has a level of reserves that enables it to achieve this stability and provides it with sufficient flexibility to meet the demand for foreign currencies to meet the requirements of the balance of payments and other obligations.
According to the latest data on the level of foreign reserves adequacy, the foreign reserves of the Central Bank of Iraq cover 83.62% of the broad money supply, i.e. covering the cost of importing 15 months, while the global standard rate is 20%, covering 6 months of importing.
However, foreign reserves management faces global and local challenges according to the economic nature of each country and the economic and geopolitical conditions it is going through.
What are the most prominent contributions of the Central Bank of Iraq in supporting the Iraqi economy?
The Central Bank responded to global economic challenges, such as rising energy and raw material prices, by adjusting some monetary policies in line with the international situation and to enhance confidence in the Iraqi dinar and prevent a sharp decline in its value. The Central Bank raised interest rates to counter inflationary pressures resulting from changes in global prices and domestic demand, and issued new instructions to Iraqi banks to control cash liquidity.
The Central Bank of Iraq has increased its holdings of foreign exchange reserves and gold to strengthen the country’s financial position and financial stability.
The bank also launched programs and initiatives aimed at increasing financial inclusion, including enhancing the spread of digital banks and online financial services, in addition to the Central Bank of Iraq’s contribution to sustainable development.
It also played an important role in financing economic and development projects by providing soft loans and special financing programs aimed at supporting productive sectors while continuing to finance small and medium enterprises.
Has the banking sector in Iraq been affected by US sanctions imposed on some banks?
The sanctions imposed on banks are related to the decision to ban dealing in dollars, as the banks were not included in the sanctions list issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and therefore the banks’ activities continue, according to the applicable procedures and in all currencies except the dollar.
As for the situation of the Iraqi banking sector, it is experiencing a state of stability, as government banks still control approximately 79% of the total assets of the banking sector, compared to 21% for private banks.
Are there any restrictions on the bank’s use of its funds in the United States?
There are no restrictions on our US accounts, taking into account the application of international standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in foreign transfers.
What are the reasons for the low rate of bank card usage in Iraq compared to neighboring countries? What are your steps to overcome this situation?
There are major reasons behind the low use of bank cards in Iraq, most notably the preference of many Iraqis to use cash in their daily transactions due to prevailing customs and traditions, in addition to the limited spread of banking services, as a large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, remains unconnected to banks.
Finally, lack of financial awareness plays a major role in the reluctance to use bank cards.
To address these challenges, we are working to improve and expand our digital infrastructure. In this context, the Central Bank of Iraq has initiated the establishment of a national electronic payment company to encourage the banking and non-banking sectors and public institutions to develop this infrastructure.
The Central Bank, in cooperation with public and private institutions, is organizing awareness campaigns aimed at increasing public knowledge of the benefits of using bank cards and electronic payment methods to enhance confidence in the banking system.
The number of bank cards in 2023 will rise to 19.75 million cards and the number of bank accounts will rise to 13.3 million accounts.
The bank focuses on improving security and increasing transparency, and has created a platform to manage public complaints related to the financial sector, which helps in developing strategies to address any issues facing financial institutions. It works to encourage financial innovation by supporting the development of services such as electronic wallets, banking applications, and opening digital banks. It is also currently working to launch a national financial inclusion strategy that includes solutions to most of these challenges, in addition to financial awareness programs targeting various segments of Iraqi society.
All of this resulted in both the number of bank cards in 2023 rising to 19.75 million cards and the number of bank accounts rising to 13.3 million accounts. Where has the digital banking project come from?
The Central Bank of Iraq issued licensing controls for digital banks in Iraq during May of this year, and is in the process of studying the submitted applications in light of the requirements for digital banks, taking into account the risks and limitations related to digital banks, especially with regard to cybersecurity risks.
The main objective of licensing digital banks is to keep pace with developments in the banking environment, as well as to provide diversity in the provision of banking services in light of technological progress that contributes to enhancing financial inclusion by facilitating customers’ access to banking services.
In light of the International Monetary Fund’s statement that Iraq’s internal imbalances have worsened due to the large financial expansion and the decline in oil… How do you view its demands to correct the financial situation?
Naturally, the country’s dependence on rentier resources leads to bearing the costs of external shocks that are beyond its control, such as negative oil price shocks, and because the country needs more spending than any stable country due to the conditions it has gone through during decades of wars and destruction, which requires increasing spending on infrastructure, which is the basic pillar of the shift towards economic diversification.
All of this has led to pressure on the capabilities of public finance, especially the revenue side, and thus resorting to borrowing. Therefore, we agree with the International Monetary Fund regarding reforming the public finance situation, and the positive effects this has on supporting the independence of monetary policy in achieving its primary goal, which is the stability of the general price level through controlling liquidity levels.
We agree with the International Monetary Fund regarding the reform of public finances, and the positive effects this has on supporting the independence of monetary policy.
Will removing zeros from the dinar destabilize the financial situation in Iraq?
The process of removing zeros from a currency means replacing the old currency with a new one in order to simplify the accounting process between consumers. It is often resorted to by countries that suffer from high inflation and have become unable to deal with paper currencies of very low value.
Many believe that the process of deleting zeros is an economic and monetary reform process and is resorted to in cases of high inflation and currency collapse, which reduces the feeling of economic collapse (a monetary illusion process). However, if this process is not supported by real economic factors and accompanied by radical reforms, it becomes negative.
The project to remove zeros in Iraq is under continuous review and study at the Central Bank of Iraq, taking into consideration the existence of a volume of issued currency that exceeded 100 trillion dinars after it was 6 trillion in 2004, the year following the exchange of the currency that was undesirable and of poor quality.
In addition to a wide cash supply approaching 179 trillion dinars, which requires specialized cadres, especially in the bookkeeping process, which government banks are still suffering from due to the circumstances the country has gone through.
How will Iraq’s repayment of all its debts to the International Monetary Fund affect the country’s economic situation as a whole?
Iraq’s repayment of all its debts to the International Monetary Fund, accumulated over the years as a result of the Fund’s loan programs to address the economic challenges that Iraq faced in previous years, could have a positive impact in the long term by enhancing credit and improving financial sustainability, in addition to its repercussions on the country’s economic situation through:
Improve Iraq’s economic confidence and credit rating and obtain financing on better terms in the future. Enhancing the confidence of foreign and local investors in the Iraqi government’s ability to meet its financial obligations. Achieving greater independence for Iraqi economic sovereignty, making the country less vulnerable to external pressures and interference in its economic policies.
Alleviating financial pressures and reducing financial burdens, which reduces pressure on the general budget.
Directing financial resources towards infrastructure and economic development projects and improving the ability to finance development projects.
Reducing pressure on foreign reserves, which has a positive impact on the stability of the currency and the country’s ability to cover its imports and maintain financial and economic stability.
Where have the Central Bank of Iraq’s procedures for localizing salaries of employees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq reached?
We would like to point out that this bank has taken the necessary measures to complete the process of localizing salaries of employees of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in terms of providing the Federal Court with a list of banks licensed by this bank and operating in the region, and providing the infrastructure and electronic payment systems that support the processes of localizing salaries in the region, which clarifies the controls for opening a bank account and adopting an electronic signature for the same purpose.
