Iraq Mall, one of Baghdad’s largest shopping and investment centers, is facing a serious operational crisis that could force it to shut down completely within the next 48 hours.
Such a closure would not only affect the project itself but could also threaten the livelihoods of nearly 20,000 families who depend on the mall for jobs, business opportunities, and related economic activities.
The crisis is mainly linked to ongoing electricity problems and delays in installing dedicated electrical transformers for the project. Although the mall’s management completed all import procedures and the transformers arrived in Iraq some time ago, they have yet to be installed due to administrative and bureaucratic delays.
According to the owner of the project, the mall has been relying entirely on alternative power sources to remain operational. However, this solution has become extremely costly, with daily operating expenses reaching around 50 million Iraqi dinars.
Most of this money is being spent on purchasing diesel fuel from unofficial market sources to keep large backup generators running. While this has helped maintain operations temporarily, the costs have become unsustainable. Frequent power fluctuations have also created technical problems and negatively affected business activity inside the complex.
The mall’s administration says it has already obtained all the necessary approvals to import the transformers, which would provide a long-term solution to the electricity problem. However, the installation process remains stalled because of lengthy administrative procedures and slow coordination between the Ministry of Electricity and other relevant government departments.
The project owner described the situation as being trapped by bureaucracy, with essential equipment ready for use but unable to move forward because of paperwork and procedural delays.
Management warned that a complete shutdown would have consequences far beyond investor losses. Thousands of employees, contractors, suppliers, service providers, and small business owners who depend on the mall could be directly affected if operations come to a halt.
In response to the growing crisis, Iraq Mall’s administration and shop owners have appealed to the Prime Minister for urgent intervention. They are calling for immediate action to speed up the installation of the transformers and remove bureaucratic obstacles that are delaying the solution.
They argue that resolving the issue quickly is necessary not only to save the project but also to protect jobs, support local businesses, and maintain commercial stability in Baghdad.
