Anbar International Airport has entered its second construction phase following completion of phase one, which delivered a security fence, 32 watchtowers, and internal and external access corridors. The second phase will focus on runway construction and passenger waiting lounges, with 60 billion Iraqi dinars ($41 million) allocated by the federal government. The airport is planned across a 6,000-dunam site with a commercial air cargo capacity of 500,000 tons annually. Local officials and economists speaking on the project cited the airport's potential to create over 5,000 jobs and strengthen Anbar's role as a logistics node — a province that borders Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia through three active land crossings.
Why It Matters
The phase two announcement signals that the project is advancing, but the funding picture remains unresolved. The first phase was itself delayed by insufficient financial allocations, and the Anbar local government was required to seek explicit assurances from Baghdad before construction could resume. The 60 billion dinar allocation covers runway works only; the full scope of phase two, including terminal and passenger infrastructure, has not been fully funded.
The project's design and construction chain is entirely Turkish. Selkom Architecture & Design, an Ankara-based firm, developed the architectural plans, while WHD Design provided electrical engineering consultancy covering the presidential terminal, auxiliary buildings, and utility infrastructure.
Polikon, a Turkish construction company with a portfolio spanning Russia, Central Asia, and North Africa, was awarded the construction contract and formally received the site land in March 2022. A Turkish-UAE cable and earthing systems supplier, GERPAAS, confirmed completing equipment deliveries to the site in 2023.
Bottom Line
Phase two is underway, but the project's history of funding-driven delays means the 60 billion dinar allocation should be treated as a down payment, not a guarantee of completion.
