Sulaymaniyah

Sulaymaniyah is a city in Kurdistan Region, Iraq, serving as the capital of Sulaymaniyah Governorate with around two million inhabitants. The settlement spreads across several valleys and hills in the eastern part of the region.

Ibrahim Pasha Baban founded the city in 1784 during the Ottoman-Kurdish administration and named it after his father Sulayman Pasha. In the early years, local authorities actively recruited Jewish residents, shaping the commercial development of the area.

Named after Sulayman Pasha by his son Ibrahim, the city was deliberately founded where water sources and fertile valleys meet. The settlement has drawn traders and scholars from across the mountain ranges and plains since its establishment.

The University of Sulaymaniyah, established in 1968, offers instruction in several languages and stands as the largest academic institution in Kurdistan Region. Visitors can also find the Sulaimani Museum, the second largest museum in Iraq, displaying Mesopotamian artifacts, Persian antiquities, and Kurdish historical objects.

Bazaars and teahouses still shape the cityscape today, showing how trade and social exchange organize daily life. On market days, Kurdish spices, fabrics, and handicrafts mix with conversations about news from surrounding villages.

Location: Kurdistan Region

Location: Sulaymaniyah District

Inception: 1784

Elevation above the sea: 882 m

Part of: Kurdistan Region

Website: http://sharawani.com

GPS coordinates: 35.55705,45.44260

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:05