Iraq aims to break ground on the long-delayed Baghdad Metro project by the end of 2025, a senior official said, in what authorities describe as a milestone effort to modernise the capital’s overwhelmed transport system.

Mohammed al-Najjar, advisor to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the metro is “a vital and strategic project that has been long awaited”. He said construction will begin with one line and expand in phases, following a comprehensive plan developed by a newly established project management body.

The Baghdad Metro project has been under discussion for decades. Originally proposed in the 1980s, it was repeatedly shelved due to war, political instability, and international sanctions. Once completed, it will be the first of its kind in Iraq.

The metro would span 148 kilometres (92 miles) and include seven lines and 64 stations. The project is estimated to cost $18 billion and is expected to be completed within four years.

The system will combine underground, surface-level, and elevated tracks to accommodate Baghdad’s varied urban landscape. “Part of the metro will be underground in older areas, surface-level where space allows, and elevated in less densely developed districts,” al-Najjar said. “It’s an advanced model that will integrate multiple technologies to ensure smooth operation.”

In late June, Prime Minister al-Sudani formally received the accreditation of the international consortium Vaskhod & Wonter Capital, selected to lead the design, implementation, operation, maintenance, financing, and ownership transfer (DBOMFT) of the Baghdad Metro.

The consortium comprises French, Spanish, and Turkish firms, as well as Germany’s Deutsche Bank.

According to a government statement, 250 land plots have already been handed over to investors. A global consultancy has been contracted to finalise the initial designs, which will trigger the start of construction.

Sudani has championed the metro and a planned high-speed railway between Najaf and Karbala as key infrastructure projects.

“The Baghdad Metro project will significantly improve transport for a city of over eight million people,” he said in February. “It will connect most neighbourhoods and extend to new urban centres like Al-Jawahir, Ali Al-Wardi, and New Sadr City.”

The government has defended its contractor selection process following online criticism, stating that the firms involved are internationally accredited and that the consulting contract was set below the government’s cost cap. Officials also underscored that the investor, not the state, would bear financial responsibility.

Currently, most Baghdad residents depend on taxis and buses for daily travel. Chronic congestion means even short commutes can take hours. The metro, officials argue, will offer a cleaner, faster alternative and reduce pressure on road networks.

“This is not a small project—it requires years of work,” said al-Najjar. “But it’s finally moving forward, and we are committed to seeing it through.”

Turkish contractors are focusing on a wide range of projects in Iraq, including power plants and factories, residential buildings, transportation infrastructure projects, water supply and treatment centers.

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat recently met with his Iraqi counterpart, Atheer Dawood Salman Al Ghurairi, to discuss bilateral trade, logistics and investments as well as projects that Turkish contractors may undertake in this country.

To date, Turkish construction firms have undertaken 1,130 projects in Iraq, amounting to a total of $35.3 billion, Bolat said.

Bolat stated that in the coming period, Turkish contractors may take part in new and comprehensive developments, particularly the Development Road Project.

The minister said that he and his counterpart engaged in a constructive dialogue regarding the removal of technical and customs barriers to mutual trade.

Bolat emphasized that they demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing trade and economic relations between the two countries during the meeting.

He also announced that the protocols aimed at improving trade with Iraq would be evaluated at the “Türkiye-Iraq Economic and Trade Joint Committee’s 2nd Term Meeting,” which is planned to be held in Baghdad this year.

Under the coordination of the Trade Ministry and with the organization of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) and the General Secretariat of the Istanbul Minerals and Metals Exporters’ Associations (İMMİB), a trade delegation is planned to visit Erbil from May 25 to 29, according to Bolat.

Iraq has begun construction of its third offshore pipeline to export crude oil from the country’s southern ports, in what the Oil Ministry calls one of the “most significant strategic initiatives in the national export system.”

According to a statement from the ministry, the goal is to improve the flexibility of crude oil flows and expand export capacity, strengthening Iraq’s position on international markets. The Oil Minister, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, He stated that “the project represents a fundamental transformation in the country’s export system from southern ports.” The plan envisions a design capacity of 2,4 million barrels per day and an operational capacity of approximately two million. This level will allow Baghdad to more efficiently manage export operations and ensure a stable supply of crude oil to global markets. The project is part of the ministry’s vision of developing an integrated and secure export system to increase national revenue and improve oil infrastructure in southern Iraq.