Is Iraq’s economy truly progressing or is new pressure starting to build?

In this episode, economist and strategist Ahmed Maan Tabaqchali breaks down the real state of Iraq’s economy, covering stability since 2019, the Iraqi dinar, de-dollarisation, banking sector challenges, fintech adoption, digital payments, tokenisation, the Iraq Stock Exchange and Iraq’s post-election outlook following the 11 November 2025 parliamentary vote.

As Chief Strategist of Asia Frontier Capital’s Iraq Fund, Ahmed offers a clear and data-driven view of what has improved and what still needs reform for Iraq to achieve sustained, broad-based growth.

Key Topics
• Iraq’s stability and growth indicators
• Banking sector bottlenecks and trust deficits
• Fintech expansion and digital payments
• Blockchain and tokenisation in Iraq
• Opportunities across the Iraq Stock Exchange
• The Iraqi dinar, dollar access and US oversight
• De-dollarisation trends and economic priorities for 2026

About Ahmed

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmedtabaqchali/
Profile: https://auis.edu.krd/iris/iris-fellow/ahmed-tabaqchali
Asia Frontier Capital: https://www.asiafrontiercapital.com/

More Majlis & Markets episodes on Iraq

Ep 4 Navigating Iraq’s Emerging Tech Ecosystem
https://majlisandmarkets.buzzsprout.com/1907033/episodes/14213929-episode-4-navigating-iraq-s-emerging-tech-ecosystem

Ep 10 Accelerating Iraq’s Startup Revolution
https://majlisandmarkets.buzzsprout.com/1907033/episodes/14750565-episode-10-accelerating-iraq-s-startup-revolution

Ep 24 Bricks and Bytes: Iraq’s Real Estate Tech Boom
https://majlisandmarkets.buzzsprout.com/1907033/episodes/15264026-episode-24-bricks-and-bytes-iraq-s-real-estate-tech-boom

Ep 38 Venture Into Iraq: Start-Ups on the Rise
https://majlisandmarkets.buzzsprout.com/1907033/episodes/15817011-episode-38-venture-into-iraq-start-ups-on-the-rise

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MajlisMarketspod

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In this episode, we sit down with Dr Lisa Gulesserian and John Gollifer from the GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI) to discuss how governance, board effectiveness and investor relations are developing across the GCC.

We explore key regional differences in board maturity, the role of IR as Gulf markets deepen, and the challenges boards face around composition, diversity, succession and disclosure.

This discussion offers a clear, research-based view of the issues shaping boardrooms across the region today.

Referenced Material:
GCC BDI Board Effectiveness Review 2025: https://gccbdi.org/gcc-bdi-board-effectiveness-review-2025

GCC Board Directors Institute: https://gccbdi.org

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Why is Dubai still booming while global real estate slows? And is Saudi Arabia’s transformation—from home ownership to hospitality—actually sustainable?

In this episode, we speak once again with Faisal Durrani, Partner & Head of Research at Knight Frank Middle East, to unpack what’s really driving the Gulf’s property cycle.

We discuss affordability, foreign ownership, migration trends, rental pressures, hospitality demand, and the rise of Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.

Reports mentioned:
Destination Saudi 2024 – https://www.knightfrank.com.sa/en/destinationsaudi

The Saudi Report 2025 – https://www.knightfrank.com.sa/en/thesaudireport

Destination Dubai 2025 – https://www.knightfrank.ae/destinationdubai

Related reading:
Financial Times – “The lingering wealth gap in Saudi Arabia”
http://www.ft.com/cms/23ac98f8-c65f-4c44-992f-e3e1182fddbd.html?FTCamp=engage/CAPI/website/Channel_muckrack//B2B

Previous episode with Faisal:
EP. 32 — UAE & Saudi Real Estate Insights
https://majlisandmarkets.buzzsprout.com/1907033/episodes/15612124-episode-32-building-trends-uae-saudi-real-estate-insights

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