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 Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 5:36 am Post subject: IRAQ TRAVEL TIPS (Traveling to Iraq Essentials) |
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IRAQ TRAVEL TIPS (Traveling to Iraq Essentials)
Language
80 per cent Arabic, 15 per cent Kurdish. Assyrian and Armenian may also be spoken.
Religion
More than 50 per cent Shia Muslim, with the remaining Sunni Muslim, and Druze and Christian minorities.
Time
GMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from 1 April to 1 October).
Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Various two- and three-pin plugs are in use. Electricity supplies were severely affected in the recent conflict.
Currency Information
The new Iraqi Dinar was introduced in October 2003. Iraqi Dinar (IQD) = 20 dirhams = 1000 fils. Notes are in denominations of IQD25,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500, 250 and 50. Coins are in denominations of IQD100 and 25. This information is subject to frequent change in the current conditions.
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency can be used at special duty-free shops in Baghdad up to a value of US$200. To obtain this concession, goods must be purchased within 20 days of arrival and passports must be produced.
Credit / Debit Card Information
Not widely used.
Travellers Cheque Advice
These are not generally accepted.
Currency Restrictions
The import of local currency is allowed up to ID25 and export up to ID5. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, provided declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported and declared.
Banking Hours
Sat-Wed 0800-1230, Thurs 0800-1100. Banks close at 1000 during Ramadan.
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements with international mobile phone companies are still in progress. There is extremely limited coverage.
Internet
There are no ISPs in Iraq at present. However, although connectivity within the home is rare, Internet access is sprouting everywhere via cafes and hotels, mainly in Baghdad.
Media
There has been a surge of media outlets since the downfall of Saddam Hussein. During his dictatorship, satellite TV was banned.
Press: Newspapers published in Arabic include Al Mada (website: www.almadapaper.com), Al Mashriq and Al Dustur. Al-Sabah (website: www.alsabaah.com) is the main English-language daily , Al-Zaman (website: www.azzaman.com) is a London based daily printed in Baghdad and Basra and Iraq Today (website:
www.iraq-today.com) is an English-language daily.
TV
Al-Iraqiya, Al Sharquiya, Kurdistan Satellite Channel and KurdSat.
Radio
Republic of Iraq Radio, Radio Nahrain, Voice of Iraq, Hot FM and Radio Dijla.
Post
All mail may take several weeks to process and is inadvisable.
Transport
Orange and cream taxis are in service on routes between towns and cities. Taxis can be shared or hired individually. There is also a good inter-city bus network.
A railway line connects Baghdad to Mosul and Basra, but the service from Baghdad to Istanbul has been suspended since the Iran-Iraq War.
International airports are located at Baghdad and Basra, but national carrier Iraqi Airways has been grounded since the Gulf War. The sanctions regarding air travel are still valid against Iraq.\
Source:worldtravelguide.net |
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