A Foreign Company's Guide to Setting Up in Iraq
Iraq is one of the fastest-growing economies in the Middle East, attracting foreign companies across sectors ranging from energy and construction to technology, trade, and financial services. Yet for many foreign businesses, the first — and most consequential — decision is often the least understood: how should we register our presence in Iraq? Iraqi law offers two primary vehicles for foreign companies to establish a legal presence: registering a Branch Office of the existing foreign company, or incorporating a new Iraqi Limited Liability Company (LLC, known in Arabic as a Sharika That Mas'ouliyya Mahdouda). Each path carries distinct legal consequences, timelines, costs, and strategic trade-offs. This guide explains both options clearly, highlights the critical legal requirements that are often overlooked — including the conditions that must be met before a branch can even be registered — and helps foreign companies make an informed choice before engaging with Iraqi authorities.
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