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.