Housing Ministry 2026: Housing Deficit Drops to 2.3M Units; Ministry Disclaims Responsibility for Post-Delivery Investment Projects

 Iraq's Ministry of Housing announced on May 1, 2026, that the housing deficit has decreased to 2.3 million units following recent census data and government initiatives. Spokesperson Nabil al-Saffar clarified that the ministry holds no authority over investment projects once delivered, highlighting a regulatory gap in maintenance management. Since 2024, 21 new city projects have been approved to provide 765,000 units, with more pending for 2026. These efforts aim to reduce the 29.1% overcrowding rate while addressing the urgent need for a unified building maintenance and management system.