Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Parallel market exchange rates for the U.S. dollar against the Iraqi Dinar (IQD) broadened their upward rally on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with retail selling prices pushing above 156,000 IQD across all three primary trading hubs in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra, according to pricing data.
Baghdad led the market advance with retail selling rates hitting 156,500 IQD per $100 USD, marking a fresh intra-month high. Basra followed at 156,250 IQD per $100 USD, while Erbil breached the threshold to settle at 156,000 IQD per $100 USD. All three regional bourses traded at an expanded premium above the Central Bank of Iraq’s (CBI) official statutory peg 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 | 156,500 | 155,500 | 1,000 IQD |
| Erbil | 156,000 | 155,000 | 1,000 IQD |
| Basra | 156,250 | 155,750 | 500 IQD |
Market Dynamics and Official Benchmark Comparison
- Widening Parallel Divergence: Baghdad’s selling quote expands the parallel market premium to 25,500 IQD per $100 (~19.47%) over the official central bank rate, driven by sustained cash dollar demand across wholesale merchant networks.
- Erbil Joins the 156,000 Band: Erbil registered a 500 IQD day-on-day gain on both bid and ask sides, rising from Tuesday’s 155,500 IQD to touch 156,000 IQD.
- Regional Margin Disparities: Both Baghdad and Erbil operated with widened bid-ask spreads of 1,000 IQD, signaling heightened volatility and risk-pricing by exchange dealers, while Basra maintained a narrower spread of 500 IQD amid steady cash-settlement activity in the southern commercial zone.
