Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, only isolated, sporadic violence has hit Arbil, unlike many other areas of Iraq

Arbil is Iraq’s fourth largest city with a population of approximately 990,000. The city serves as the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the ruling body of the predominantly Kurdish areas of northern Iraq. Unlike the rest of Iraq, which is embroiled in conflict between rival Sunni and Shiite Arab factions, the U.S.-led coalition, the Iraqi government, and foreign jihadists, Iraqi Kurdistan has been enjoying relative peace and prosperity since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, which has led to a boom in development.
The 2 main political parties in the KRG are Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and former Prime Minister of Iraq Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). There is a rivalry between the KDP and the PUK which contributes to corruption in the KRG and its sometimes volatile politics. Both the KDP and the PUK have their own security forces and battle hardened militias that are loyal to the party leadership.

Security situation – security for business and western travelers

-Terrorism Overview

The Kurds have their own counterterrorism and police forces, and the Peshmerga militias. The Kurdish security forces, especially the Peshmerga militias have been able to keep the Kurdish controlled areas relatively secure. However, the Islamist groups Ansar al Sunna and Ansar al Islam continue to operate in northern Iraq, and foreign jihadists under the umbrella organization the Islamic State of Iraq, which included al Qaeda in Iraq, occasionally, make forays into the region. Jihadist insurgents have been known to operate in Arbil, Mosul, and Sulimaniyah. To the south, Kirkuk, because of its more mixed population of Sunni, Shias, and Kurds, experiences a higher level of insurgent activity.

These militant groups primarily target Kurdish government and administration targets. In Feb. 2004 Ansar al Sunna claimed responsibility for a bombing during a joint KDP and PUK-sponsored Eid celebration in Arbil that killed 109 people, and another bombing in May 2005 that killed 60 people outside a police recruitment center. Most recently in May 2007, a truck bomb exploded near the Kurdish government's Interior Ministry killing a dozen people and wounding over 50. This attack was followed days later by a bombing in the mixed Kurdish-Arab town of Makhmur, southwest of Arbil that killed approximately 50 people. Compared to the rest of Iraq, the Kurdish security forces are fairly good at interdicting attacks from these groups, however, these attacks demonstrate that there is always the potential for a mass-casualty producing attack against civilians.
-Criminal Activity Overview

The lawlessness that prevails in much of Iraq has caused an explosion in criminal activity since 2003. Crime is lower in Arbil than in other Iraqi cities, with most of the criminal activity focusing on the refugees flooding into the area from other parts of the country.

Nevertheless, kidnapping is rampant in Iraq with foreigners sometimes targeted. Kidnappers usually demand ransom from the families in the case of abductions of Iraqis and non-Western foreigners, while Westerners are kidnapped for political or religious reasons. In The higher level of security in Arbil makes kidnapping less of a threat than in other parts of Iraq. However, Ansar al Sunna, which has been moving closer to al Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq recently, may consider abducting a Westerner and presenting them to the umbrella jihadist group.
-Corruption Overview

Like the rest of Iraq, the KRG is corrupt. The Kurdish government reportedly has 27 separate ministries to govern a population of about 5 million. These various, often parallel ministries become fiefdoms for Kurdish politicians to disburse favors and influence to friends and supporters. There are also issues about the fair disbursement among various factions and the population in general, of the considerable oil revenues that are expected to come out of the area. Membership in either the PUK or the KDP, or both, is considered necessary to get a job in the KRG. For businesses, ties with either or both parties are also considered necessary. In Iraq cash is king, with the U.S. dollar being widely accepted in Arbil. Establishing a personal relationship with the local Kurdish police and security forces is also considered necessary for operating any large business in the city.

-Protest activity, disruptions due to riots

-Impact of political developments The Iraqi constitution ratified last fall stipulates that the status of Kirkuk, a ethnically mixed city with a large Kurdish population, must be resolved by the end of 2007.

Security precautions
-Is a private security guard contingent needed? The nationwide curfew in effect for Iraq, does not apply in the KRG-administered areas of Dohuk, Arbil and Sulaymaniyah.  However, because of the diminished but always present security risks to Westerners in Arbil, a local driver should be utilized. Given the large number of local people with experience in the Kurdish security forces and militias local personnel can be considered as potential candidates for private security details and drivers.
-Recommended hotels, non-recommended hotels

The Erbil International Hotel also known as the Sheraton, caters to Kurdish officials, foreign contractors, journalists and diplomats. It is considered the best hotel in Arbil. Before the 1991 Gulf War, Sheraton had numerous properties in Iraq, including Arbil. Since then the chain has left Iraq. More recently, the operators of the hotel in Arbil have been trying to get a Sheraton franchise license. The Chwar Chra Hotel on Abdul Salam al Barzani street, is the most expensive and least cultural. Guests are separated from the rest of the city like a resort. The Shereen Palace Hotel and Arbil Tower (Tawar) Hotel are also considered good choices for tourist or anyone. UN personnel frequently stay at the Arbil Tower Hotel. The Nazar Tourist Hotel, Zhur Hotel, and Sarang Hotel are considered safe enough, but their accommodations are more Third World.

-1 or 2 evacuation routes to get the employees out of the country, if needed

Hawler Airport is the best way in and out of Arbil. Local officials claim that the airport has security approaching the level of Western airports. The airport has daily service to major hubs such as Vienna, Stockholm, Amman, Dubai, and Amsterdam. Western intelligence believes that militant groups have targeted Hawler airport in the past and will continue to do so. Overland access to Arbil is best done through Turkey rather than from other points in Iraq. The threat of militant attack exists in every Iraqi city and on roads throughout the country. While this threat is not as sever in the KRG, false vehicle checkpoints manned by militants, roadside bombs, and carjackings can occur anywhere in the country. Because of this, most foreign government and NGO group take the precaution of using two or three-vehicle convoys to move around Arbil.

The U.S.-led coalition presence in Arbil is limited. There is a contingent of South Korean troops and they are popular with the locals. This limited presence contributes to the security situation in Arbil because a larger presence would be likely to attract insurgent attacks. Some private security contracting firms operate in Arbil, guarding foreign government and NGO interests in the area.