It Is said - soon to be

[Aslan]

New car plates planned for #Iraq.

A - Arbil

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... nt_count=1

[Aslan]

#Iraq to sign a new aviation agreement with the #US as early as next week. Direct flights are planned between several US cities and those in Iraq, towards the end of the year.

The first flights could be between #Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, #Baghdad and New York, Washington DC and Detroit/Chicago. Most of the flights will be operated by the growing national carrier, Iraqi Airways.

[Aslan]

#Kurdish sources say Iraqi Kurdistan could be home to an estimated 1.2 million foreigners (out of a population of roughly 6 million) by early 2014. An additional 50,000 Syrian refugees have entered the region in the past few days only, as the local authorities now allow up to 3,000 Syrians to enter the area as refugees each day.

More than half of the number of foreigners are from just 4 regional countries (Syria, Turkey, Iran and Lebanon). The rest are workers from Asia, Africa, and a large Western expat community.

Is it possible that Kurds could one day become a minority in their own region? The government should be careful with taking that "Dubai model" too serious.

[Aslan]

You know it from #Dubai: The Address Hotel is currently being built at the upcoming Downtown #Erbil project by Emaar.

#Kurdistan #Iraq

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... nt_count=1

[Aslan]

Latest #UNHCR report: more than 50,000 extra #Syrian refugees have entered #Iraqi #Kurdistan since August 15. They now total more than 220,000 in Iraqi Kurdistan alone (excluding the rest of Iraq, where there are also many Syrians). The number of Syrian refugees in Iraq could hit half a million or more towards year's end, as the situation further escalates.

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie is expected to visit Iraq and Kurdistan Region again.

[Aslan]

Raghem Alama with Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani in #Erbil.

The Arab Lebanese superstar was in the Kurdish capital for concerts, business and of course, meeting officials.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 5454_n.jpg

[Aslan]

Starwood to unveil the new Sheraton #Duhok hotel by early 2014. Three more Starwood and Sheraton hotels to open in #Erbil by 2015.

[Aslan]

Soon: The Atlantis Hotel in Dokan, on the shores of the "Kurdish Riviera."

#Dubai based luxurious property developers #EMAAR (the folks behind the Burj Khalifa) are currently involved in two massive, multi-billion developments in #Iraqi #Kurdistan: Downtown #Erbil, and the #Dokan Lake tourism project in #Sulaimaniyah (pictured).

Dokan Lake is Iraqi Kurdistan's largest lake, and will soon see the construction of a $3 billion resort, complete with five star hotels, luxurious housings, malls, a marina and a theme park. It's believed it will also feature The Atlantis Hotel, a copy of the one in Dubai, opening by 2017.

Kurdistan aims to become a top, all-season, international tourism destination by 2015, with ski resorts in the snowy mountains in the winter, and beach resorts on its lakes in the summer, among the different options.

[Aslan]

The US Consulate in the Kurdish capital will move out of Ainkawa and the construction of a new complex --one of the largest American consulates in the world-- will start in 2014 on the outskirts of #Erbil, Iraqi #Kurdistan.

Worth mentioning, the US Embassy in #Baghdad, #Iraq, is the largest in the world.

[Aslan]

#Iraqi #Kurdistan government to pay citizens a sum of $500-1000 per month, from the oil revenues, regardless of someone's status or income.

This is what Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani promised the the voters during an election campaign. Iraqi Kurdistan elects a new parliament later this month.

#Erbil #Iraq #Elections

[Anthea]

#Iraqi #Kurdistan government to pay citizens a sum of $500-1000 per month, from the oil revenues, regardless of someone's status or income.

This is what Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani promised the the voters during an election campaign. Iraqi Kurdistan elects a new parliament later this month.

#Erbil #Iraq #Elections

He has my vote

[Aslan]

New Iraqi Kurdish airline to start operations by October 2:

ZagrosJet, the new Erbil-based airline, will begin operations on October 2 with its maiden flight from Erbil to Ankara Esenboga. Thereafter, flights to Adana will launch on October 4, Beirut on October 10, Stockholm Arlanda on October 11 and Amman Queen Alia on October 20.

The airline is a joint venture between Atlasjet Airlines and the Kurdish Zagros Group in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq and received final approval for operations from both the Turkish and Iraqi governments in 2013. The airline also has plans to add more destinations in Europe, Turkey and the Middle East, and will offer seasonal flights to Jeddah and Madinah in Saudi-Arabia.

You can book the flights on their website www.zagrosjet.com

[Aslan]

reports about kurdistan
http://www.theguardian.com/the-report/k ... ew=desktop

[Aslan]

Heli-tech 2013: Kurdistan orders MD 530Fs and MD 902s

[Aslan]

Grand Millennium #Sulaimaniyah, opens by end of 2013 as the most luxurious hotel in #Iraq and #Kurdistan

The 39-story tower has 196 guest rooms, 55 suites and special suites, 7 restaurants (including Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Lebanese and All day dining restaurant), besides a revolving restaurant at the top of the tower, several bars and lounges, and extensive sports and leisure facilities.

The property also has an auditorium accommodating 300 seats (6846 m2) and one ball room for 750 people (5378 m2). The whole project is located at the top of a hill-- about 50 meters above the street level-- overlooking the whole city of Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan's second largest city.

The hotel is one of the many investments of the city's well-known resident Billionaire, Farouk Rasoul, who also has shares in AsiaCell, Iraq's largest telecommunications company. According to Bloomberg, Rasoul's wealth is worth at least $2.7 billion.