Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has officially launched the New Sadr City project in Baghdad—a large-scale urban development initiative designed to transform the capital’s housing landscape.
Spanning 4,000 dunams (approximately 400 hectares or 1,000 acres) between the Al-Maamel area and the edge of the current Sadr City, the project will include 60,000 housing units of various sizes. These will be fully supported by modern infrastructure, including roads, sanitation, clean water, electricity, and telecommunications services.
The city will be organized into 3 main sectors, 12 districts, and 52 neighborhoods, with a central hub for commercial and public services. According to the Prime Minister, the project represents a forward-thinking economic model: the government will complete all infrastructure work, after which private sector developers will build the residential units. This approach aims to replace substandard and informally developed neighborhoods with well-planned, high-quality housing.
In April, China’s state-owned Shandong Hi-Speed Group was awarded the infrastructure and roadworks contract for 11,000 housing units. The company was selected through a competitive bidding process based on rigorous technical and financial standards. The project is scheduled for completion within 1,200 days.
Al-Sudani emphasized that the project will not involve demolishing existing residential areas. Instead, it seeks to integrate old and new neighborhoods through modern planning and upgraded services.
Reaffirming that housing remains a top priority, the Prime Minister noted that construction is underway on 8 of the 16 new cities approved under the current government’s program. Residents of informal settlements will be offered alternative housing solutions as part of the broader urban renewal effort.
(Source: PMO)
