Erbil rushes to complete historic Qaysari Bazaar restoration before Ramadan

ERBIL — Efforts to fully restore Erbil’s Qaysari Bazaar, which was devastated by a massive fire on May 5, 2024, are still underway, with authorities working to complete the project before Ramadan so merchants can return to their shops.

“We are expediting the process to ensure that shop owners can resume their businesses before Ramadan and restore normal commercial activity,” Karzan Abdulhadi, head of Erbil Municipality, told 964media.

While part of the market has already reopened, some shopkeepers have resumed work, and more are expected to return in the coming weeks. Officials anticipate a larger number of businesses will be fully operational before the start of Ramadan, which is set to begin on March 1, 2025.

The fire destroyed 227 shops and seven warehouses, prompting a large-scale restoration project funded by the Erbil Governorate with 5.3 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $3.6 million). As of January, 105 shops had been fully restored, while the remaining businesses are in the final phase of reconstruction. Authorities say they have focused not only on rebuilding but also on preserving the historic market’s architectural character.

The Qaysari Bazaar fire was one of several major market blazes in Erbil last year, all causing significant financial losses. On Feb. 27, 2024, a fire at Langa Market destroyed 185 shops, with estimated losses of 6.75 billion dinars ($5.15 million). Two months later, another fire engulfed the same market.