Iraq Travel Tips General Information

Population: 24,510,000 (UN estimate 2002).

Population Density: 55.9 per sq km.

Capital: Baghdad. Population: 4,958,000 (UN estimate 2001).

GEOGRAPHY: Iraq shares borders with Turkey, Iran, the Gulf of Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic. There is also a neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia administered jointly by the two countries. Iraq’s portion covers 3522 sq km (1360 sq miles). The country’s main topographical features are the two rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris, which flow from the Turkish and Syrian Arab Republic borders in the north to the Gulf in the south. The northeast is mountainous, while the country in the west is arid desert. The land surrounding the two rivers is fertile plain, but the lack of effective irrigation has resulted in flooding and areas of marshland.

Government: Interim government. Head of State: President Ghazi Mashal Ajil a-Yawer since 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Iyad Allawi since 2004.

Language: 80 per cent Arabic, 15 per cent Kurdish. Assyrian and Armenian may also be spoken.

Religion: More than 50 per cent Shia Muslim, with the remaining Sunni Muslim, and Druze and Christian minorities.

Time: GMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from 1 May to 30 September).

Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Various two- and three-pin plugs are in use. Electricity supplies were severely affected in the recent conflict.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD service available, but services were severely disrupted following the conflict and only gradually returning. Country code: 964. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone: Extremely limited coverage. GSM 900 operates through the following companies: Asia Cell (website: www.wataniya.com), Atheer (website: www.mtc-vodafone.com), Iraqna and SanaTel (website: www.sanamobile.com).

Telegram/Fax: There are facilities in Baghdad. Telegrams can be sent from the telegraph office next to the post office in Rashid Street. Services are also available at major hotels.

Internet: There are no ISPs in Iraq at present. However, although connectivity within the home is rare, Internet access is sprouting everywhere via cafes and hotels, mainly in Baghdad.

Post: All mail may take several weeks to process and is inadvisable.

Press: Newspapers published in Arabic include Al-Mannarah, Al-Mu'tamar and Tariq ash-Shaab. Periodicals are also published. The main English-language daily is the As-Sabah (Morning).

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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