Omar Habeeb Abdul Razaq

When Iraqi Talents Become Global Stars… A Bittersweet Victory and a Hard Lesson

by Omar Habeeb Abdul Razzaq

Every time I read news about an Iraqi succeeding abroad, conflicting emotions battle in my heart. Overwhelming joy because our people prove to the world that Iraqis can excel and innovate wherever they go, and deep sadness because this success happens far from the homeland that needs them more than ever.

As an Iraqi politician and social activist who has spent years supporting youth causes, I’ve witnessed this painful equation firsthand. It’s not just cold statistics in migration reports or numbers in brain drain studies. These are real stories of young Iraqis forced to chase their dreams beyond our borders, not because they don’t love Iraq, but because Iraq hasn’t provided them with the right environment to achieve their ambitions.

The irony cuts deep: we celebrate their achievements abroad while failing to benefit from their capabilities at home. According to recent reports, thousands of young Iraqis migrate annually, most holding advanced degrees and specialized skills. These aren’t just numbers—they’re doctors who could have saved lives in our hospitals, engineers who could have built bridges of progress in our country, and scientists who could have put Iraq on the global map of scientific research.

But the real question isn’t why they leave—it’s why we can’t convince them to stay. The answer is complex and multifaceted, but it starts with understanding that brain drain isn’t just about seeking better salaries. It’s about finding an environment that values competence, provides fair opportunities, ensures stability, and respects innovation.

When an Iraqi doctor finds himself waiting years for appropriate training opportunities while getting them in months abroad, the decision becomes clear. When an engineer sees infrastructure projects awarded based on connections rather than competence, frustration turns into a decision to leave. When a researcher realizes that investment in scientific research is minimal and limited, foreign laboratories become the only option for achieving scientific dreams.

This doesn’t mean everyone who leaves is justified in their decision, nor that staying in Iraq is impossible. There are inspiring success stories of young Iraqis who chose to stay and contribute to building the nation despite challenges. But these stories remain exceptions that confirm the rule rather than refute it.

The real problem lies in treating brain drain as inevitable fate rather than a challenge that can be confronted. We need a real revolution in how we think about investing in Iraqi human capital. This means reforming the education system to meet modern requirements, developing the scientific research environment, creating real job opportunities based on competence, and ensuring security and political stability.

More importantly, we need to change the institutional culture that favors connections over competence and personal loyalty over professional achievement. We need to build institutions that respect the Iraqi mind and provide it with the right environment for creativity and growth.

The solution isn’t preventing youth from traveling or closing borders to ambitions. The solution is making Iraq a place worthy of keeping creators and attracting successful people back. We need a comprehensive strategy that includes educational reform, scientific research development, creating an attractive investment environment, and ensuring good governance.

This challenge isn’t impossible. Many countries faced the same problem and succeeded in reversing brain drain. South Korea, for example, managed in just a few decades to transform from a brain-exporting country to a brain-attracting one through massive investment in education, technology, and scientific research.

Iraq has all the ingredients to succeed in this challenge. We have a rich history in education and culture, enormous natural resources, a strategic geographical location, and most importantly, we have smart, creative, and educated people. What we lack is the real political will to make the required change.

When we see an Iraqi succeeding abroad, we should celebrate their success, but we should also ask ourselves: what could we have done to keep this success in Iraq? And what can we do to ensure that the next generation of Iraqi creators finds in their homeland what they seek abroad?

The answer to these questions is our collective responsibility. The government’s responsibility in setting the right policies, institutions’ responsibility in applying competence and transparency standards, and society’s responsibility in supporting a culture of excellence and innovation. Only when we take this responsibility seriously can we transform the bitter joy of our children’s successes abroad into pure joy in their successes at home.

Infrastructure… The Arteries of Life Awaiting Their Pulse

by Omar Habeeb Abdul Razzaq

Every morning, millions of Iraqis wake up to a reality that reminds them that infrastructure isn’t just a technical term used by engineers and planners, but the pulse of daily life that determines their quality of living and their children’s future. When electricity cuts out in the middle of a hot summer day, or when streets turn into water pools after the first rain, or when citizens spend hours in traffic jams due to inadequate roads, they realize that infrastructure isn’t a luxury—it’s a life necessity.

As an Iraqi politician who has worked in various state institutions and a social activist who believes in the importance of comprehensive development, I’ve learned that the Development Road project, considered one of the largest strategic projects in modern Iraqi history, represents a perfect model of what advanced infrastructure can achieve. This project, which aims to connect the Arabian Gulf with Turkey through Iraq, isn’t just a road or railway line—it’s a comprehensive vision for transforming Iraq into a regional and global logistics hub.

But the real challenge doesn’t lie in the project’s magnitude or its $17 billion cost, but in our ability to implement it with the required transparency and efficiency. Past experiences taught us that large projects in Iraq often face challenges of corruption, mismanagement, and implementation delays. Therefore, the success of the Development Road project requires more than just funding and technical planning; it requires real political will to ensure transparency and accountability.

Modern infrastructure goes beyond the traditional concept of roads and bridges to include digital networks and advanced communications. In the age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation, Iraq cannot settle for building asphalt roads and concrete bridges, but must invest in digital infrastructure that enables e-commerce, digital government, and distance learning.

The latest UN report on digital transformation in Iraq shows notable progress in digital payments, where digital transaction values rose from 2.6 trillion dinars in January 2023 to 7.6 trillion dinars in 2024. This development shows that Iraq can keep pace with technological developments when proper will and support are available.

But successful infrastructure requires more than just investment in large projects. It requires an integrated vision that connects different projects and ensures their integration and harmony. When we build a new road, we must ensure there’s a reliable electricity network to light it, a communications network to secure smart services, and sewage systems to protect the surrounding environment.

The biggest challenge in developing Iraqi infrastructure lies in sustainable financing. Relying solely on oil revenues to finance these massive projects makes Iraq vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations. Therefore, we need a diversified financing strategy that includes private sector partnership, foreign direct investment, and international financing from global financial institutions.

Public-private partnerships represent a promising model for infrastructure development. This model can bring technical expertise and administrative efficiency from the private sector while maintaining government oversight and direction. Many countries succeeded in developing their infrastructure through this model, and Iraq can benefit from these experiences.

But most importantly is ensuring that infrastructure projects serve ordinary citizens and improve their daily quality of life. There’s no benefit in building fancy highways if residential neighborhoods lack basic services. And there’s no point in establishing modern airports if citizens can’t reach them due to poor public transportation networks.

Integrated urban planning must be the foundation of any infrastructure development strategy. This means studying each area’s needs and determining its priorities, ensuring fair distribution of projects among different governorates, and considering expected population growth and climate changes.

Environment must be a basic consideration in all infrastructure projects. Climate change and desertification impose new challenges on planners and engineers. New projects must be environmentally sustainable and contribute to facing environmental challenges rather than exacerbating them.

Maintenance and operation are neglected aspects in many Iraqi infrastructure projects. Building the project is the beginning, not the end. Regular maintenance and efficient operation are necessary to ensure service continuity and extend project life. This requires allocating adequate budgets for maintenance and training specialized personnel.

Modern technology opens new horizons for developing smart infrastructure. Smart traffic management systems can reduce congestion and improve transportation efficiency. Smart electricity networks can reduce waste and improve supply reliability. Smart water management systems can improve distribution efficiency and reduce waste.

Investment in infrastructure isn’t just government spending, but investment in the country’s economic future. Good infrastructure attracts investments, improves productivity, creates jobs, and improves quality of life. Economic studies show that every dollar invested in infrastructure achieves an economic return ranging from 3 to 7 dollars.

But achieving this return requires proper planning, efficient implementation, and continuous maintenance. It also requires community participation in planning and monitoring, ensuring transparency in all project phases, and holding negligent and corrupt individuals accountable.

Iraq stands today before a historic opportunity to build modern and advanced infrastructure worthy of its rich history and people’s aspirations. The Development Road project can be the beginning, but it shouldn’t be the end. We need a comprehensive vision that includes all aspects of infrastructure, from transportation, energy, and communications to education, health, and environment.

This vision requires strong political will, precise scientific planning, transparent and efficient implementation, and broad popular participation. When these elements are available, infrastructure can transform from mere silent arteries to a pulse of life that refreshes every cell in the nation’s body.

Iraq and Artificial Intelligence… Are We on the Train or on the Platform?

by Omar Habeeb Abdul Razzaq

In a world where technological development accelerates at an amazing pace, where artificial intelligence reshapes every aspect of human life, Iraq finds itself facing an existential question: are we part of this global transformation, or are we standing on the platform watching the future train pass by without being able to catch up?

The honest and painful answer is that we’re not sufficiently prepared for this radical transformation. According to the 2024 Government AI Readiness Index, Iraq ranks 107th globally, a ranking that places us among the least prepared countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. This number isn’t just a statistic, but an alarm bell ringing loudly to remind us that time is running out, and delay in catching up with technological development could cost us the future of our coming generations.

As an Iraqi politician and social activist who supports youth causes and believes in the importance of technological advancement, I’ve learned through my experience working with young people that the first challenge Iraq faces in artificial intelligence is the absence of a clear national vision. While regional countries set ambitious AI strategies and allocate billions of dollars to develop this sector, Iraq still lacks a comprehensive and integrated strategy.

This absence of strategic vision means our limited efforts in this field remain scattered and uncoordinated, reducing their effectiveness and impact. The second challenge lies in weak digital infrastructure. Artificial intelligence requires advanced digital infrastructure including fast and reliable internet networks, advanced data centers, and cloud computing systems.

Despite notable progress in digital payments, which saw an increase from 2.6 trillion dinars to 7.6 trillion dinars within one year, this progress remains limited compared to what’s required to support advanced AI applications.

The third challenge, and perhaps most important, is the lack of specialized personnel. Artificial intelligence requires advanced expertise in computer science, mathematics, statistics, and data science. These specializations need long-term investment in education and training, which we haven’t started seriously enough. Iraqi universities, despite their rich history, need radical updating in their curricula and programs to meet digital age requirements.

But challenges don’t mean surrender. Iraq has real foundations that can be built upon to develop the AI sector. We have a rich history in mathematics and sciences, smart and enthusiastic youth eager to learn, and financial resources that can be directed toward technology investment. What we need is political will and strategic vision to transform these foundations into tangible reality.

The first step must be establishing a comprehensive national AI strategy. This strategy must define priorities, objectives, and required resources, and set a clear timeline for implementation. The strategy must include all sectors, from education and health to agriculture, industry, and government services.

Education must be at the heart of this strategy. We need to redesign educational curricula to include computer science, programming, and artificial intelligence from early stages. We must invest in teacher training and developing their capabilities in these fields. Universities need specialized programs in AI and data science, and partnerships with advanced global universities in this field.

The private sector must be a fundamental partner in this transformation. Government alone cannot bear the burden of developing the AI sector. We need an attractive investment environment that encourages local and foreign companies to invest in this field. This requires supportive laws and legislation, tax incentives, and administrative facilities.

International partnerships are also necessary. Iraq can benefit from advanced countries’ expertise in AI through technical cooperation agreements and experience exchange programs. UNESCO, for example, recently organized training courses in Iraq on AI ethics, and this is a model that can be expanded and developed.

Practical applications of AI in Iraq can start from sectors that desperately need them. In healthcare, AI can be used to improve medical diagnosis and hospital management. In education, it can be used to develop adaptive learning systems and personalized education. In agriculture, it can be used to improve productivity and crop monitoring.

Digital government represents a promising field for AI application. These technologies can be used to improve government services, simplify procedures, and increase transparency. AI systems can help fight corruption by analyzing data and detecting suspicious patterns.

Cybersecurity must be a basic consideration in any AI strategy. These technologies open new horizons for cyber threats, and we need to develop our capabilities in this field to protect our data and vital systems.

Ethics and laws are another important aspect. AI raises complex ethical and legal issues related to privacy, human rights, and social justice. We need a clear legal and ethical framework that regulates the use of these technologies and ensures their use serves humanity, not against it.

Funding remains the biggest challenge. Developing the AI sector requires massive investments in research, development, education, and infrastructure. Relying solely on oil revenues may not be sufficient, and we need diverse funding sources including private investment, international financing, and strategic partnerships.

Time is a decisive factor in this race. Every day we delay catching up with technological development increases the difficulty of the task and reduces chances of success. Countries that started early in AI investment are now reaping the fruits of their investments, while late countries find themselves in a more difficult position.

But delay doesn’t mean impossibility. History is full of examples of countries that managed to catch up with development despite late starts. South Korea, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates are all examples of countries that achieved amazing technological leaps in relatively short periods.

Iraq stands today at a crossroads. We can choose the path of digital transformation and AI investment, or we can continue delaying and procrastinating until catching up becomes more difficult and costly. The first choice requires political courage, strategic vision, and massive investment, but it guarantees us a place in the future world. The second choice is easier in the short term, but condemns us to marginalization and backwardness in the long term.

Iraqi youth, who make up 60% of the population, are our real hope in this transformation. These young people grew up in the age of internet and smartphones, and they’re more ready to adopt new technologies than previous generations. But they need support, guidance, and opportunities to develop their capabilities in AI.

Investment in artificial intelligence isn’t just investment in technology, but investment in Iraq’s future and its coming generations. It’s investment in our ability to compete in the global economy, in our ability to solve our local problems, and in our ability to build a more just and prosperous society. The question isn’t whether Iraq will enter the AI age, but when and how. The sooner we make the right decisions and start implementation, the better our chances of catching up and achieving success. The train hasn’t left yet, but time is running out quickly, and there’s no room for more hesitation or delay.