Saudi Arabia eyes Iraq's Anbar for potential investments
Riyadh is considering significant investments in Iraq's Anbar province, but is facing opposition from certain Iraqi political forces and Shiite factions.
![SAUDI-IRAQ/ Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R) talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, June 19, 2017. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC149073CBE0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2018/04/RTS17RRO.jpg/RTS17RRO.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=a1EG8cws)
Saudi Arabia is considering investing in 2.5 million acres of agricultural land in Iraq's western province of Anbar, which has suffered both economically and otherwise after the bitter war to regain control of the province from the Islamic State. If such an investment is made, it would be facilitated by the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, which was formed in October.
The Iraqi Ministry of Commerce announced the potential investment in a brief statement to the press April 4, but did not disclose any further details on the matter.