Official languages are Arabic and Kurdish. Bedouin dialects are also spoken in the south-west, and Turkish to some extent in the north. Azerbaijani and Aramaic are also spoken in some areas. Foreign languages are rarely mastered.
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
01/06/2022 Memorial day in honor of the military
04/09/2022 Baghdad Liberation Day
05/01/2022 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
05/01/2022 Labor Day
07/09/2022 Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
07/14/2022 day of the Republic
07/30/2022 islamic new year festival
08/08/2022 Armistice Day (End of Iran-Iraq War)
08/08/2022 Ashura
03.10.2022 National holiday
10/09/2022 Milad un Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Muhammad)
The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset, which causes disruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening hours of shops and authorities) and therefore there may be restrictions for travelers.
Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day, and the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is restricted or e.g. T. even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes it must be taken into account that meals and drinks during Ramadan may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room.
Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as in respect of Islamic traditions.
Some interruptions may also occur during Eid al-Fitr. This festival, like Eid al-Adha, is indefinite and can last from 2-10 days depending on the region.
Duty free shopping
Overview
Up-to-date information on duty-free regulations is not available at this time. The following duty-free carry-on allowances are guidelines: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 bottle of spirits and 1 bottle of wine (together no more than 1 l); Up to 2 opened bottles of perfume (together no more than 500 ml).
Prohibited Imports
Western magazines, drugs, weapons, cell phones, laptops, binoculars, typewriters, electrical appliances, all kinds of plants and fruits, fresh and dried meat, and dairy products. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Exports
Valuables or electronic devices purchased in Iraq that were undeclared upon entry. The illegal export of antiques, archaeological finds (including small fragments) and antique carpets can be punished with severe penalties up to and including the death penalty.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
Elfenstrasse 6
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (0)31 351 40 43.
Mon-Fri 09.00-15.00.
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
Johannesgasse 26, Postfach 322
Wien
Austria
+43 (0)1 713 81 95.
Business cards are common, e.g. Sometimes they are printed in Arabic and English. At business meetings, non-business topics are often addressed as well.
Opening hours
Business hours: Sat-Thurs 08.00-14.00, Friday is the weekly rest day and the shops are usually closed. Opening times may be shorter during Ramadan.
Business contacts
Arab-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Ghorfa) Garnisonkirchplatz 1, 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel. +49 (0)30 278 90 70. Website: www.ghorfa.de Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) Lobkowitzplatz 1, Postfach 76, 1010 Vienna, Austria Tel. +43 (0)1 513 39 65. Website: aacc.at
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 00964 and the city code for Baghdad is 01. Iraq has an ailing telephone network and telephone communication is mainly via mobile phones.
Mobile phone
GSM 900. The cities are in the reception and transmission range. International roaming contracts exist.
Internet
There are more and more internet cafes, especially in Baghdad.
Post office
Airmail to Europe takes 5-10 days, often longer. Land shipments do not always reach their destination.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
