DLA Piper advises IFC and Government of Iraq on Baghdad International Airport’s landmark USD764 million PPP project

DLA Piper has advised the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and the Government of Iraq on the procurement of the landmark public-private partnership (PPP) project for the rehabilitation, expansion, financing, operation and maintenance of Baghdad International Airport. The project represents an investment of approximately USD764 million.

The project represents a major milestone in Iraq’s transport infrastructure development and marks the first PPP of its kind in the country’s aviation sector. It aims to modernize and expand Baghdad International Airport’s capacity and operations, attracting private investment, improving service quality, and strengthening Iraq’s role as a regional aviation hub.

DLA Piper advised IFC and the Government of Iraq on all aspects of the structuring, procurement, and negotiation process of the PPP, including the preparation of the tender documentation and the PPP agreement, ensuring compliance with international standards and best practices. On 5 November 2025, the tender was awarded to a consortium comprising CAAP (Corporación América Airports) and local infrastructure company Amwaj International.

A multidisciplinary and cross-border DLA Piper team from offices in Italy, Austria, and the United Kingdom, worked on the project led by Finance partners Francesco Ferrari (Finance and Co-Head, Infrastructure, Construction and Transport, Europe) and Jasna Zwitter-Tehovnik. The team also comprised partners Sharon Fitzgerald advising on sustainability and climate change aspects of the project, and Tony Payne (Lit&Reg) advising on regulatory matters. They were supported by legal director Luigi Mula and lawyer Riccardo Simionato for the Italian team, and by counsel Ivan Males and associate Barbara Vičič for the Austrian team.

Local legal advice was provided by Al Tamimi & Company, with a team led by partner Khaled Saqqaf, supported by partner Thomas Calvert and senior associate Aro Omar.

DLA Piper has previously advised IFC and the Government of Bulgaria on the successful procurement of the Sofia Airport concession under a PPP scheme (closed in 2020). The team also supported IFC and the Government of Lebanon in the attempted procurement for the refurbishment, expansion, and operation of Beirut International Airport under a PPP scheme (2021), as well as IFC and the Government of Kyrgyzstan in the attempted procurement of Bishkek’s Manas International Airport under a PPP model (2022). These mandates underscore DLA Piper’s internationally recognised capabilities as a leading advisor on complex PPP projects in the aviation infrastructure sector.