Baghdad hotel venue for Arab Summit hit by fire
Also in Iraq
Nearly 400 gazelles go missing in Diyala province reserve
Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council approves top judge's retirement
KRG delegation arrives in Baghdad amid efforts to resolve financial disputes
Iraq's Victory Coalition to skip election
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A fire broke out Sunday morning at the newly inaugurated Heart of the World Hotel in Baghdad's upscale Qadisiyah district. The hotel, which recently hosted events for the 34th Arab League Summit, confirmed that the incident resulted in no injuries and caused only material damage.
Hotel owner Abdullah al-Jubouri released a statement saying, 'A fire broke out in our hotel today, and we thank God that no one was harmed. The damages were material and not extensive.'
Civil defense teams responded quickly to the scene and were able to extinguish the flames before they could spread further. Jubouri credited the hotel's safety infrastructure for minimizing the impact, stating that 'both internal and external fire suppression systems were automatically activated, including high-pressure water systems.'
A hotel in Baghdad caught fire on Sunday, with firefighters struggling to bring the blaze under control pic.twitter.com/7OrO4M3Nxy
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) June 29, 2025
While the exact cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed, Jubouri acknowledged the swift response from emergency services and expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by officials and the public.
He assured that hotel operations would return to normal soon.
The Heart of the World Hotel was officially inaugurated on May 11 by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. It played a key role during the Arab League Summit on May 17, serving as a venue for diplomatic delegations and hosting a state-of-the-art press center to facilitate media coverage of the event.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraqi News
3 hours ago
- Iraqi News
Iraq, Spain discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi president, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, reaffirmed on Sunday his commitment to improving bilateral ties between Iraq and Spain and boosting collaboration to serve the interests of the people in both countries. Rashid's remarks took place during his meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain and his wife, Queen Letizia, in the Spanish city of Seville, where he attended a ceremony honoring the leaders, heads of state, and delegations attending the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Presidency. Rashid and Iraq's First Lady, Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, expressed their appreciation for the Spanish King's invitation to the conference and conveyed their hopes for its success. The Iraqi president also hailed Spain's support for the Palestinian cause, its willingness to put a stop to the violence, and its recognition of the Palestinians' right to self-determination. Additionally, Rashid expressed his hope that the conference will yield suggestions that support people's goals for security, stability, growth, and prosperity.
Iraq Business
10 hours ago
- Iraq Business
New Scheme offers Iraqis Affordable Building Materials
By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani inaugurated the new 'Construction Basket' initiative on Wednesday, an innovative programme designed to provide citizens with access to building materials at competitive prices and on convenient instalment terms. The centre, located at the newly-opened Cooperation Center for Construction , is a joint venture between the Ministry of Commerce's General Company for Trading in Construction Materials and the private sector. In his remarks, Al-Sudani praised the Ministry's efforts and underlined the significance of promoting locally made products, reaffirming that "Made in Iraq" is a strategic direction to revitalise national industry. He highlighted that Iraq's construction sector is undergoing a major transformation across government, institutional, and investment-driven projects. Key highlights of the Prime Minister's announcement include: Targeted support for retirees, families on the social protection network, relatives of martyrs, and employees. A directive to establish a mechanism linking loans and construction permits with access to subsidised construction materials. An emphasis on using cooperative models to regulate material prices through public-private collaboration-similar to the earlier food-focused Hypermarket initiative. Availability of building materials that meet Iraqi standard specifications at reduced prices. Approval of investment permits for around one million residential units, alongside initiatives through the Housing Fund and Real Estate Bank. Prioritisation of industrial zones and investment facilitation for private sector-led manufacturing projects. Ongoing coordination with the Union of Industries and the Union of Contractors. A commitment to expanding the initiative, starting with Nineveh and Basra governorates. Al-Sudani reaffirmed the government's stance that the private sector is a critical partner in satisfying domestic market demand and creating employment for Iraqi youth. (Source: Media Office of the Prime Minister) Tags: Basra News, building materials, cg, Construction Basket initiative, Cooperation Center for Construction, Economic Development, featured, General Company for Trading in Construction Materials, Housing, Loans, MSMEs, Nineveh, private sector
Shafaq News
11 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Kurdish lawmaker: Salary crisis nearing resolution as Baghdad–Erbil deal advances
Shafaq News – al-Sulaymaniyah Former Iraqi parliamentarian Ala Talabani said on Sunday that the long-running salary crisis in the Kurdistan Region stems from both political tensions and a nationwide liquidity crunch, but emphasized that a breakthrough agreement between Baghdad and Erbil is now within reach. Speaking at a press conference, Talabani, a senior figure in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), said the dispute over civil servant salaries in the Region has clear political dimensions in addition to being tied to Iraq's worsening cash flow problems. 'The economic situation in Iraq is under tremendous strain due to US sanctions,' she noted, adding that the liquidity crisis has even affected the federal government's ability to pay salaries for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). She confirmed that negotiations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government are ongoing, with senior officials holding regular meetings aimed at implementing the federal budget law and rulings from the Federal Supreme Court. 'The salary delays have caused serious harm to citizens and worsened their living conditions,' Talabani said. With parliamentary elections approaching, she warned against politicizing the salary issue for electoral gain. 'This file must not become a political tool,' she stated, while expressing cautious optimism. 'I believe an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad is imminent—there is no viable alternative.' Talabani voiced support for salary domicilization—a system that would require government employees in the Kurdistan Region to receive their wages via bank transfers under federal oversight—but noted that it remains unclear whether both major Kurdish parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the PUK, support the measure. 'According to the Federal Court's ruling, the agreement must be implemented and salaries should be paid monthly through domicilization,' she said. She concluded by emphasizing that the only viable solution lies in a formal agreement between Baghdad and Erbil, warning that continued delays would deepen public hardship. 'This issue must be resolved within a legal and constitutional framework—away from political maneuvering,' she said. Earlier in the day, PUK leader Ziyad Jabbar told Shafaq News that his party supports any deal that could resolve the salary crisis. He attributed the prolonged impasse to the lack of a clear and binding agreement between the two governments.
