Duhok International Airport (under construction)

The suspension of the project was due to a combination of severe economic and security crises. The primary factors were: 1) The financial crisis in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) caused by a sharp drop in global oil prices and budgetary disputes with the central government in Baghdad. 2) The immense financial and logistical burden of the war against the Islamic State (ISIS), which began in 2014 and diverted critical resources and government focus towards the military effort. This lack of funding brought construction to a complete stop.

The site is an abandoned construction project, often referred to as a 'ghost airport'. The physical infrastructure, including the runway, taxiways, apron, and the shell of the terminal building and control tower, are largely complete but are in a state of neglect and deterioration from years of exposure to the elements. The site is inactive, fenced off, and not used for any purpose.

The airport was never operational and therefore has no history of active operations. Its significance lies in its ambition and what it represented. Planned as the third international airport in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (after Erbil and Sulaymaniyah), it was a flagship project intended to boost the economy of the Duhok Governorate, a region rich in historical sites and with a large diaspora. The project, which began around 2012 with Turkish contractors, was a symbol of the KRG's economic development and aspirations before the 2014 crisis. The partially constructed site, including a 3,800-meter runway and a large terminal building, stands as a monument to the development plans that were derailed by regional conflict and economic hardship.

Uncertain but periodically discussed. Officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government have repeatedly expressed their desire to resume work and complete the airport. There have been numerous announcements over the years about seeking new investors or allocating future funds to restart the project. However, as of early 2024, no concrete, fully-funded plan has been put into action. The primary obstacle remains the immense cost of completing construction, installing modern avionics and security systems, and making the airport operational. Its reopening is entirely contingent on the KRG securing significant international investment or a dramatic improvement in its financial situation.