The Kurdistan Restaurants and Hotels Association says restaurant activity in Erbil has dropped by 35% due to the ongoing conflict. However, officials confirm that no restaurants have closed and none have raised food prices.
Mahmood Tawfiq, head of the association’s branch in Sulaymaniyah, said no restaurant or tourist venue has shut down due to higher gas prices. He also confirmed that owners have not increased menu prices. Instead, they are absorbing the extra costs to protect customers.
Meanwhile, the association is working with gas distributors to stabilize supplies. Tawfiq said officials plan to allocate specific gas quotas for restaurants soon. “Restaurants cannot pay more than 25,000 dinars per cylinder while keeping prices unchanged,” he explained. Therefore, the association continues to demand fair pricing and distribution.
The conflict with Iran has reduced gas production in the Kurdistan Region. As a result, gas prices have risen sharply. In some areas, a cylinder now costs up to 35,000 dinars. Consequently, many residents wait in long queues to buy gas.
Shukr Aziz, deputy head of the Erbil branch, confirmed that restaurants remain open and stable. However, he noted a clear decline in business. In particular, restaurants with tourism licenses have seen a 35% drop in customers.
Although the weather remains pleasant, fewer tourists have visited this season. As a result, the hospitality sector has slowed compared to previous years.
The conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran began on February 28. Since then, it has affected both the region and global markets. One major impact is the rise in gas prices, which jumped from about 8,500 to over 25,000 dinars per cylinder.
