Sulaymaniyah International Airport was officially renamed Jalal Talabani International Airport today during a ceremony attended by senior officials from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The name change follows official approvals from the Iraqi government and concludes more than four years of efforts led by the President Jalal Talabani Foundation.

Senior Iraqi and Kurdistan Region Officials Attend the Ceremony

The renaming ceremony was organized by the President Jalal Talabani Foundation and attended by a large number of senior officials from both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Among those participating were Bafel Jalal Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), alongside senior government and party officials from the Kurdistan Region. The President of Iraq and several Iraqi ministers also attended the event.

Official Approval Granted by the Council of Ministers Presidency

The Ministry of Transport and Communications announced that, following a request from the Directorate General of Sulaymaniyah International Airport, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers approved changing the airport's name from Sulaymaniyah International Airport to Jalal Talabani International Airport.

The decision to rename the airport was made on March 19, 2026, establishing the new name across all official correspondence, maps, flights, and approved documents.

The ministry said the change forms part of official updates within Iraq's civil aviation sector, including amendments to airport codes, signage, and technical information.

The Ministry of Transport also noted that Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the former Prime Minister of Iraq, and the Minister of Transport in his cabinet had previously approved the name change.

Foundation: Four Years of Efforts Led to the Decision

Mohammed Sabir, director of the President Jalal Talabani Foundation, stated that after more than four years, our efforts have reached their goal. Like the leaders of other nations, President Jalal Talabani deserves to have his struggle and sacrifices honored in every way. Naming Sulaymaniyah International Airport after him is a small tribute to the history of President Jalal.

History of Sulaymaniyah International Airport

The foundation stone of Sulaymaniyah International Airport was laid on November 29, 2003, on an area covering 13.5 square kilometers.

The airport was officially inaugurated on July 20, 2005, by Jalal Talabani, who was serving as President of Iraq at the time. It received international status on November 2, 2005, and is currently administered by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority. The airport operates under international aviation systems and standards and consists of several administrative departments.

Now officially renamed Jalal Talabani International Airport, the facility is located in the Bakrajo area, approximately 15 kilometers from the center of Sulaymaniyah.

The airport's first flight took place on July 20, 2005. The first passenger to travel abroad from the airport using an Iraqi passport was Dilshad Mohammed Salih, a resident of Sulaymaniyah born in 1957.