Transport in Iraq consists of railways, highways, waterways, pipelines, ports and harbors, marines and airports.
Railways
total: 2,272 km standard gauge: 2,272 km
The Baghdad Metro (), also known as Baghdad Elevated Train (BET) is a planned rapid transit public railway system consisting of an underground metro as well as an elevated railway in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. In July 2024, it was announced that an international consortium consisting of French, Spanish and Turkish companies as well as Deutsche Bank were awarded $17.5 billion to implement the Baghdad Metro project. The project is estimated to be completed by May 2029.
A 37 km monorail is planned in Najaf, which would link three Shi'ite holy sites.
The first Iraqi Republic Railways train to Basra since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime arrived on 26 April 2003. British troops hope to use the 68 km long railway to transport much-needed aid supplies from the port town of Umm Qasr to Basra.
In June 2011, it was announced that planning had begun for a new high-speed rail line between Baghdad and Basra, with a memorandum of understanding with Alstom having been signed.
Maps UNHCR Atlas Map UN Map
Railway links with adjacent countries All adjacent countries generally use , but may vary in couplings. Neighbours with electrified railways – Turkey and Iran – both use the world standard 25 kVAC
Turkey – via Syria Iran – one link partially under construction and a second link planned Iraq-Iran Basra-Shalamcheh line – under construction Kermanshah, Iran, and the Iraqi province of Diyala – construction commenced. Kuwait – no railways Saudi Arabia - Jordan – partially constructed – break of gauge / gauge Syria – same gauge – at Rabiaa/al-Ya'rubiya
Road Transport An overland trans-desert bus service between Beirut, Haifa, Damascus and Baghdad was established by the Nairn Transport Company of Damascus in 1923.
Roads
total: 55,100 km paved: 40,362 km, unpaved: 10,274 km (2025)
Waterways 5,729 km (Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River 1,899 km, Third River (565 km)); Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km. The channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; the Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Gulf War.
Pipelines crude oil 5,432 km; natural gas 2,455 km; refined products 1,637 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km
Ports and harbors
Persian Gulf Umm Qasr Port Khawr az Zubayr Al Basrah has limited functionality Grand Faw Port (Under construction)
Merchant marine total: 32 ships (with a volume of or over) totaling / ships by type: cargo ship 14, passenger ship 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off ship 2 (1999 est.)
Airports
Iraq has about 104 airports as of 2012. Major airports include: Baghdad International Airport Basra International Airport Mosul International Airport Erbil International Airport Duhok International Airport (under construction) Sulaimaniyah International Airport Najaf International Airport
Airports – with paved runways
Total 75 over 3,047 m 20 2,438 to 3,047 m 36 1,524 to 2,437 m 5 914 to 1,523 m 6 under 914 m 6
Airports – with unpaved runways
Total 29 over 3,047 m 3 2,438 to 3,047 m 4 1,524 to 2,437 m 3 914 to 1,523 m 13 under 914 m 6
Heliports 81 (2025)
See also Iraq Iraqi Republic Railways
References
External links