Iraqi dinars and U.S. dollars. Photo: Al-Ain News
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Parallel market exchange rates for the U.S. dollar against the Iraqi Dinar (IQD) held steady across wholesale bourses in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Selling prices remained uniform across all three regional hubs at 154,500 IQD per $100 USD, continuing a persistent gap over the Central Bank of Iraq’s (CBI) official benchmark rate of 131,000 IQD per $100 (1,310 IQD per $1 USD).
Daily Exchange Rates by City (per $100 USD)
| Major Market | Selling Price (IQD) | Buying Price (IQD) | Market Spread |
| Baghdad | 154,500 | 154,000 | 500 IQD |
| Erbil | 154,500 | 153,500 | 1,000 IQD |
| Basra | 154,500 | 153,500 | 1,000 IQD |
Market Dynamics and Official Benchmark Comparison
- Parallel Market Spread: The parallel rate reflects a premium of 23,500 IQD per $100 (~17.9%) above the CBI official exchange rate.
- Tight Margins in the Capital: Trading in Baghdad maintained a tighter 500-dinar bid-ask spread compared to 1,000-dinar spreads in Erbil and Basra, reflecting stronger daily cash settlement liquidity in central exchange houses.
