Erbil, Kurdistan
Hi, I've been invited to take a short term work contract in Erbil, Kurdistan. THe company said it was as safe and open as Dubai with plenty of foreigners living there. can anyone confirm or tell me more about the situation there? Also, how about Mosul?1
Erbil is boringly safe. Not only are there no kidnappings, bombings or terrorist attacks you might associate with Southern Iraq, but reported petty crime is lower than that of many European country and definitely lower than the US. While central Erbil is a little conservative, the Christian suburb of Ainawa has a couple bars and plenty of alcohol shops. There are plenty of foreigners (not as many as Dubai), although they're mostly oil and security meat-heads.Mosul, on the other hand, is TOTALLY different. It is possibly one of the most dangerous places on Earth. There are still frequent attacks and beyond that, anyone not conforming to extreme conservatism are targeted. This includes the local Christian and Yazidi populations.
4
I just came back from Iraqi Kurdistan. I felt really safe and I did not have any problems. It is like any European or North-American city. They are constructing a lot and only thing that will associate you that you are in Iraq are army checkpoints.Altough, city itself is not a party place. If you wanna make money then go there, but do not expect much fun. I did not see many foreigners on street but I met a lot of them in Ankawa but still not like Dubai (part of city that is more liberal than rest of part).
If you will have Iraqi Kurdistan visa I (think) you are not even available to enter Mosul, but even if you have visa for whole Iraq, still do not go there (if it is not really MUST) because it is very dangereous (probably top 5 most dangerous city in world).
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.
Good luck,
5
I can also confirm what everyone said previously about Iraqi Kurdistan, having been there recently. It's so safe its boring! Money changers leave thousands of $$ sitting unguarded in the street as crime hardly exists. I left my passport in a Sulaymaniah taxi and the driver duly returned it after I tracked him down a few hours later. Even foreigners don't really get stared at as in some neighboring countries. So dont worry at all.10
A head scarf is not necessary, but as a show of respect you can wear one. It is not that strict, so just put scarf around the head (you will see how other woman wear it). You can wear a T-shirt, but shorts would not be really respectful.As you said "long sleeves and trousers and a head scarf" will be more than enough. Also, when I was there I did not see that many tourists but still people didn`t stare at us that much (in eastern part of Turkey a lot of people apporached to us, but here mostly they look at us and that is it. Some of them asked for taking pictures with us, but that was really friendly approach and far far far from hassle).
ADVERTISEMENT
Hotels & Hostels
-
Book now
-
Philadelphia Center City Residence Inn by Marriott
Philadelphia(3 star Hotel)
From US$263.00 per night
Book now
-
Book now