Arabs, foreigners can own property in Sulaimani, court says

No Legal Barriers Stop Arabs From Owning Homes in Sulaimani, court says

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— The Sulaimani Administrative Court overturned a 2016 order issued by former governor that allowed properties to be registered in the names of Arab and foreign citizens.

However, the Sulaimani Court of Appeals said the ruling remains subject to further appeals and does not establish a final legal decision.

In a statement issued Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the Court of Appeals addressed Administrative Court Decision No. 57/K/2026, issued the same day. It said the ruling overturned the administrative order on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction.

The appeals court said property ownership in Sulaimani, like in other Iraqi cities, falls under the Iraqi Constitution and relevant laws, particularly the Real Estate Registration Law.

It added that Iraqi citizens from other parts of the country face no legal restrictions on owning residential properties in Sulaimani.

The court also stressed that Iraq’s Constitution guarantees equal rights and duties for all citizens, regardless of gender, religious sect or region.

It warned against interpreting the ruling as a final decision or applying its findings broadly to cases beyond the specific dispute.

Meanwhile, Kurdish analysts and observers have raised concerns about what they describe as the Arabization of the Kurdistan Region.

Arabs in the Erbil city, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: SM

They said the Arab population in Kurdistan has grown past 1 million through various means, including people moving to Kurdish areas and settling there, potentially changing the region’s demographic balance.

Some observers warn that these demographic changes could affect political representation over the next 20 years.

They argue that Arabs could secure seats in parliament and provincial councils as a result of population growth and high birth rates.

They distinguish this process from traditional Arabization, in which families are forced from their homes and communities.

In their view, the movement of Arab citizens into Kurdish cities, where they can legally buy homes and apartments, open shops and conduct business, presents a different demographic challenge because these activities are legally permitted.

(With files from Agencies)