Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have faced a major crisis from both external and internal dimensions: the water scarcity crisis. At present, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are confronting an unprecedented threat of drought in their history, particularly as the annual renewable water availability per individual is currently approximately 600 cubic meters and is expected to decrease by half or more in the coming decade.
Taken together, these developments highlight the diversification of Iraq's investment environment and the country's opening to the world's largest energy companies. However, the case of the West Qurna-2 oil field reveals a major structural weakness in Iraq's energy sector: its vulnerability to shifts in the relationships among global powers. It raises a critical question: if, one day, the United States were to impose sanctions on China and its energy companies, how would Iraq continue to produce oil and finance the state, given that around 90 per cent of government revenue still comes from oil exports?
The rocket attack on the Khor Mor gas field on the night of 26 November 2025 caused the explosion of the facility’s newest 65,000-barrel liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage tank and brought to a halt the flow of natural gas that generates nearly 80 percent of the Kurdistan Region’s electricity, in addition to supplying 1,200 megawatts of power to Iraq. The damage extends far beyond the millions of dollars lost in the destruction of the facility or the widespread blackout across the Kurdistan Region. This incident will have both immediate and long-term consequences for the oil and gas sectors of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq more broadly.
Since the summer of 2022, the Khor MOR gas field has been hit nine times by drones or rockets. The most recent strike, carried out last night, appears to be the most significant yet, plunging parts of the Kurdistan Region into darkness. The persistence of these attacks over the past three years, despite shifts in tactics and delivery methods, suggests that the issue extends far beyond a localized dispute or an internal crisis within the Kurdistan Region. Rather, it points to a broader strategic calculus.
Recent discussions about a supposed shortage of dinars—affecting the November salaries in Iraq’s central and southern governorates and the September salaries in the Kurdistan Region—require clarification. The facts become clear when examining the figures from the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Oil.
Iraq’s contentious 2025 elections unfolded amid deep internal fractures—across ethnic, sectarian, and political lines—and within a broader regional environment marked by heightened geopolitical tension. The preliminary results of the political balance translate into a new configuration that may include the following
For more than a decade, Syria’s Kurdish regions have faced a series of profound shifts that have reshaped their economic, political, and social foundations. Although the Ba'ath Party’s longstanding policies of marginalization and impoverishment had already left deep structural challenges, the changes that followed the 2011 uprising and the transformation of local governance introduced a new trajectory. These dynamics intensified further at the end of 2024 with the fall of the Syrian regime. Yet instead of ushering in a period of stability and economic recovery, the region entered a new wave of economic collapse and declining living standards. This has placed Kurdish families before a serious test of survival, forcing them to adapt to a volatile environment marked by uncertainty and multiple possible outcomes.
The Rudaw Research Center's latest publication, "The Division of Ottoman Kurdistan Between Two States: Syria and Iraq," was released in 2023. This comprehensive work, composed of five sections, explores the division of Ottoman Kurdistan and its historical implications.
Roughly 60.3% of the surveyed population expressed their intention to participate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, displaying similarity in turnout rates when compared to previous elections. This inclination towards participation seems to arise from a combination of new voters entering the scene and a strong aspiration among young individuals to engage in the electoral process. Moreover, the prevalent political climate and heightened polarization could also be significant factors impacting individuals’ decisions to take part in the elections. The survey indicates that three distinct groups — non-participants, undecided voters, and those opting for blank ballots — are poised to play substantial roles in the upcoming elections. Particularly noteworthy is the 39.7% of voters who intend to refrain from voting, along with 29.2% who responded positively but withheld their voting choice and 3.7%, indicated a plan to cast blank ballots. This cumulative figure amounts to 2,167,252 voters.
Young people aged 15-29 constitute a significant portion of the population in the Kurdistan Region, accounting for 28% or 1,727,903 individuals. Additionally, approximately 35% of the population in the region is under the age of 15, accounting for 2,159,879, highlighting the continued presence and influence of the young population for the next two decades. This demographic dynamic has important implications for the labor force, wealth distribution, job opportunities, and political participation. Understanding the perspectives of young people on economic, social, and political matters is crucial as it can shape the future of society.
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) Property Market Report, including a survey, followed by several meetings of counselling and planning at the Rudaw Research Center. The report was accomplished by efforts and supervision of our colleague, Mahmood Baban and his team. It provides detailed information on the price trend in the KRI real estate market
This book was written by two Norwegian journalists and was published in 1975. The book includes reports and photos of the famous Norwegian journalist ‘’Egil Ulti’’ and his photographer Evarsn journey’s to Kurdistan which they spent time with Peshmerga forces in the mountains and tell the story of how Peshmerag defended the people and land of Kurdistan and, and also tell the story of Kurdish exodus due to Iraqi regime’s attacks.
In August 2014 ISIS had launched attacks on Kurdistan region and captured some parts of Kurdistan land. ISIS has exploited the chaos of the Arab spring in Syria. According to geopolitical experts this is considered as geopolitical change therefore Kurdistan had to adapt with the new geopolitics of the region.
