US dollar rates rise in Baghdad and Erbil at weekly market opening
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Parallel market exchange rates for the U.S. dollar against the Iraqi Dinar (IQD) posted modest morning gains across financial trading centers in Baghdad and Erbil at the start of weekly trading on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
Wholesale bourses in the capital opened higher compared to Thursday’s closing levels, driving parallel retail pricing across exchange houses in both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.
Daily Exchange Rates by City (per $100 USD)
- Baghdad (Al-Kifah & Al-Harithiya Bourses):
- Wholesale Bourse Rate: 154,000 IQD(Up from 153,550 IQD at Thursday’s close)
- Local Retail Selling Price: 154,500 IQD
- Local Retail Buying Price: 153,500 IQD
- Erbil (Kurdistan Region Main Exchange):
- Local Retail Selling Price: 153,900 IQD
- Local Retail Buying Price: 153,850 IQD
The upward movement in Saturday’s opening sessions brings Baghdad’s main bourses to 154,000 IQD per $100, maintaining a persistent spread above the Central Bank of Iraq’s (CBI) official benchmark rate of 131,000 IQD per $100 (1,310 IQD per $1 USD).
Trading across retail currency exchange shops reflected the wholesale increase, with Baghdad vendors offering cash dollars at 154,500 IQD per $100, while Erbil’s market maintained a tight 50-dinar spread between selling (153,900 IQD) and buying (153,850 IQD) rates to begin the trading week.