An Iraqi Parliament member from Sulaymaniyah, Ribwar Karim, announced today, Tuesday, that he has secured the approval of the Central Bank of Iraq to start dispensing dollars to travelers at the official exchange rate at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports in the coming days.
Karim stated in a press interview, which "Al-Fadyo News Agency" reviewed, that the approval came after he sent an official letter to the Central Bank of Iraq, requesting the opening of bank branches at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah International Airports for the purpose of selling dollars to travelers departing abroad at the official rate.
He explained that the procedures for selling dollars at the official rate will begin in the coming days at both airports, noting that the official rate is 100 dollars per 132,000 Iraqi dinars.
Karim added that each traveler can obtain 2,000 dollars, equivalent to 20 notes of 100 dollars, at the official rate.
He pointed out that on August 11, 2026, he had sent an official letter to the Central Bank of Iraq, requesting the sale of dollars to travelers at the official rate through bank branches at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah International Airports.
This step, according to Karim, aims to enable travelers through the Kurdistan Region airports to obtain dollars at the official rate before leaving the country.
It is worth noting that the Central Bank of Iraq imposes strict controls on the sale of foreign currency to travelers at the official rate of 1,320 dinars, having limited the available amount for an adult traveler to 2,000 dollars, only twice a year.
The mechanism requires a prior deposit in dinars at accredited bank branches within cities, with cash disbursements to be obtained exclusively at all international airports in the country - except for the Kurdistan Region airports - after completing departure procedures and passport stamping.