Central Bank says it is meeting dollar demand for travelers, pilgrims

BAGHDAD– The Central Bank of Iraq said Tuesday it is meeting all requests for U.S. dollars submitted by banks and exchange companies for travelers, Hajj pilgrims and external transfers.

The bank said in a statement that the names of exchange companies authorized to sell dollars to travelers and pilgrims are available on its official website, “ensuring smooth procedures and organizing sales operations in accordance with approved regulations.”

This comes as a senior adviser to Prime Minister al-Sudani denied Monday that the United States had halted dollar shipments to Iraq pending the formation of a new government, calling reports to that effect “inaccurate.”

Earlier Monday, media reports and sources said the United States had halted dollar shipments and linked their resumption to government formation, and had suspended security coordination meetings pending identification of those responsible for attacks on the U.S. Embassy and a logistics base at Baghdad airport.

State-owned Rasheed Bank last week directed its branches to make logistical arrangements to facilitate the sale of U.S. dollars to Hajj pilgrims in the coming days.

Each pilgrim will be allocated $2,000 at the official exchange rate of 132,000 Iraqi dinars per $100. This compares to the parallel open market rate, which currently exceeds 150,000 dinars per $100. The measure is intended to help and facilitate access to foreign currency for pilgrims during the Hajj season.