Iraqi Truck Makes Transit Milestone Under TIR System on Route from Turkey to UAE

The General Commission for Customs announced on Friday a new milestone in international road transport, with the arrival of the first transit shipment operating under an Iraqi TIR carnet. The shipment departed from Turkey aboard an Iraqi truck bound for the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement, the commission said the development represents an important step toward strengthening Iraq’s role in international transport and trade, while creating broader opportunities for national transport companies to participate in cross-border freight operations and compete in regional markets.

The commission noted that the operation was carried out through coordination between its Transit Division, the Kurdistan Region’s customs authorities, Turkish counterparts, and the International Road Transport Union (IRU). The cooperation aims to streamline transit procedures and advance the road transport sector in line with international regulations and agreements.

Thamer Qasim Dawood, Director General of the General Commission for Customs, described the operation of an Iraqi truck using a national TIR carnet on an international route as a strategic step in developing Iraq’s transit sector. He said the achievement would strengthen the country’s position as a commercial corridor connecting regional and international markets and create new opportunities for Iraqi transport companies.

Dawood added that the commission is continuing to modernize customs procedures and facilitate the movement of transit goods by expanding cooperation with domestic authorities and international organizations. These measures are intended to shorten transit times, reduce operating costs, improve supply chain efficiency, support the national economy, and increase non-oil revenues.

He concluded that the milestone reflects Iraq’s growing integration into international transport networks and reinforces its strategic position as a link between countries, in line with government efforts to promote transit trade and develop the country’s economic and logistics infrastructure.