An Old City with a Modern Flair It is no wonder Erbil is considered to be the most modern and vibrant city in the Middle East and this is probably the reason it is often dubbed as the “Dubai of the North”. Over the last decade, the city has accepted a great deal of influence from the West, which has had a significant impact on the social and financial aspects of the native Kurdish people. Today, Erbil lifestyle is a combination of the traditional Kurdish culture and western trends. This is an extremely interesting combination of lifestyles as it gives the city a unique character, which appeals more and more to the young people who are eager to adopt new ideas without giving up on their country’s customs and traditions.
Erbil Today Erbil is the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region in the northern part of Iraq and a city that has gone through major changes in the last ten years. After the fall or the Saddam Hussein’s regime, Erbil has experienced a tremendous economic growth based on the rich oil and gas reserves of the area. This development has attracted billions of international investments in the construction, hospitality and trade sectors. Investments and career opportunities brought thousands of expatriates in the city and with the construction of modern shopping malls, cinema complexes, luxurious restaurants and cafés the simple, traditional Erbil lifestyle started to change. Moreover, as a large percentage (about 50%) of the population is under the age of 20 western influences were much easier to take effect.
The Best of Both Worlds If you go out for a long walk around the city of Erbil, you will be able to see the merging of civilizations put in practice. Watch men and women dressed in traditional Kurdish clothes doing their shopping in the ancient Qaysari Bazaar together with young Kurds (boys and girls) walking about in jeans and T shirts. Go to one of the American-style fast food stores to enjoy your burger and French fries while at the table next to you a woman accompanied by her husband is wearing the traditional headscarf. Erbilians relax in modern cafés over a cup of cappuccino while enjoying the traditional shisha flavors and getting the latest news on their mobile or laptop through the complimentary WiFi access. Erbil lifestyle has it all!
Tradition Is Strong On the other hand, the Kurds are proud of their country, their history and their culture, and they would never be willing to sacrifice their cultural heritage to a western way of life. This is clearly apparent in the way Kurds take part in local celebrations and festivals when they dress in traditional Kurdish costumes, dance to traditional music, and enjoy traditional food and drink. Newroz (New Year) celebrations in the city are the best example of how Erbil lifestyle combines the old with the new. For hours, Erbilians sing and dance the famous halparke dance in the Shanider Park dressed in their Kurdish costumes and eating yapragh and bryani – two of the most well-known local delicacies. And this is just one of many similar occasions. However modern Erbil may become, Erbilians will never abandon their Kurdish identity.