The Victory Arch, also known as the Swords of Qadisiyah, stands in central Baghdad. The monument, featuring two giant crossed swords held by hands emerging from the ground, was built in the 1980s and remains one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
Baghdad ramps up preparations to host Arab Summit for the first time in over a decade
BAGHDAD — Iraq is preparing to host up to 2,000 Arab leaders, diplomats, journalists and staff for a major regional summit on May 17 — the first high-level Arab League gathering in Baghdad since 2012.
Officials say the event offers a chance to showcase a more stable, organized Iraq, even as regional tensions persist from Gaza to Syria and Lebanon.
In anticipation of the summit, the capital has undergone infrastructure upgrades. “There are 84 projects we have been working on since the beginning of 2025,” said Adi Al-Jundil of the Baghdad Municipality in an interview with 964media. “They include renovating main roads in the capital, most importantly the airport road, the terminal itself, and even Ibn Sina Hospital inside the Green Zone, along with removing concrete blocks from 14th of July Street.”
Officials are framing the summit as a symbolic step toward Iraq’s reintegration into the Arab political landscape, following years of war, political gridlock and deteriorating public services.
“We have also worked on developing the shoulders of the roads, planting them, and increasing green spaces. Baghdad will appear in a new look as the Arab summit approaches,” Jundil added.
The Iraqi Tourism Board, working alongside committees from the prime minister’s office, is overseeing logistics and hospitality. It has confirmed that Baghdad’s main hotels have been prepared to accommodate foreign delegations.
“The number of attendees, including delegations, diplomats, escorts and journalists, is expected to range between 1,500 and 2,000 people,” said Mohsen Abd Ali, media director for the Tourism Board. “We have prepared the hotels to accommodate that number.”
He named the Heart of the World Hotel, the Mövenpick, Al-Rashid, Babel, Coral, Al-Mansour and others. “The Tourism Board has prepared the necessary hotels in Baghdad for the guests,” he said. “We supervise room readiness, cleanliness, and reception from the airport to the hotels.”
Unlike the 2012 Arab summit — which was held under heavy security and catered by a Turkish company — the Iraqi government has contracted a Lebanese firm to provide meals and services throughout the event. A separate government committee is monitoring hotel prices and related costs.
Travel within Baghdad during the summit is expected to be restricted. “Time is short and guest transportation will be somewhat difficult,” Abd Ali said. “There is no room to visit entertainment sites, so there are no preparations related to tourist spots, except for the National Museum, which is the suitable and proper location.”
Located in central Baghdad, the museum houses artifacts from Mesopotamia, one of the world’s oldest civilizations. “We have prepared the museum for visiting delegations, for those interested,” he said. “Another option might be the ancient city of Babylon, but it is unlikely due to time constraints and distance.”
The Tourism Board is also handling airport pickups, hotel transfers and overall summit coordination. Abd Ali said all delegations are being treated equally. “We’ve been preparing hotels and rooms for over 10 days now,” he said. “We are ready for the summit. There are no special preparations for any specific country or individual. We are supervising all the details for all guests equally.”