Baghdad, Iraq- The Iraqi Minister of Construction, Housing, and Public Municipalities, Bangen Rekani, approved the designs for the new Ali Al-Wardi residential city project in Baghdad on Monday. The city, located in the southeastern part of the Iraqi capital, is set to become the largest residential development under the government’s program.
Designed to be ecologically friendly and sustainable, the city will feature extensive green spaces and utilize renewable energy sources.
The contract for the new city project was signed in 2024 by Rekani and Naguib Sawiris, the Egyptian businessman and CEO of Orascom Investment Holding (OIH).
Ali Al-Wardi city will be the largest of five planned residential city projects and was given priority for development by the government. In a ceremony marking the contract signing, Prime Minister Al-Sudani highlighted the government’s plan to address Iraq’s housing crisis by constructing cities with adequate infrastructure and housing options suitable for various social classes, while also alleviating the pressure of rapid population growth in Baghdad.
Sawiris emphasized that the collaboration between Iraq and Ora Developers, his company, will bring a new, innovative approach to the development of residential cities that balance both population growth and environmental needs.
Named after the late Iraqi sociologist and scholar Ali Al-Wardi, the new city will cover 61 million square meters in southeast Baghdad and will include 120,000 residential units. The project will also feature green spaces, urban amenities, and smart city technology, adhering to the highest standards of sustainability and environmental protection.
Sawiris had previously stated that Ora Developers was in discussions with the Iraqi government to develop a large-scale city outside Baghdad, involving substantial investments.
