Shopify agency for brands selling in Iraq
Realistic Shopify setups for Iraq: Arabic-first stores, cash on delivery and local wallets, courier partners in Baghdad and Erbil, and social campaigns that bring orders.
Shopify experts for Iraq brands
Iraq has a young, fast-growing population that spends hours on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, and much online shopping starts with a social post and a message to the seller. Cash on delivery is still the main way people pay, though wallets such as ZainCash and Qi Card are spreading. Many Iraqi brands in fashion, beauty and food are moving from Instagram-only selling to proper stores that look trustworthy and handle orders reliably.
BOOST STAR Experts helps Iraqi brands and foreign brands entering Iraq build Shopify stores that fit how the market really works. Shopify Payments and international gateways such as Stripe do not serve Iraq-based businesses, so we design checkout around cash on delivery, local wallets where an integration exists and order confirmation by WhatsApp. Then we focus on Arabic content, social campaigns and simple conversion improvements.
Selling online in Iraq: what your store needs
Cash on delivery first
Most Iraqi shoppers pay cash when the parcel arrives, and many expect to inspect the item first. Wallets such as ZainCash and Qi Card, and FastPay in the Kurdistan Region, are growing, and locally issued cards are more common than before. Confirming each order by phone or WhatsApp before dispatch is standard practice and reduces refused deliveries.
Customs and two border systems
Imported goods pay customs duties at Iraq’s borders, and the Kurdistan Region operates its own crossings and procedures. Brands shipping stock in from abroad should plan for clearance times and costs at the right entry point. Iraq does not apply a general VAT on retail goods, but import costs need to be built into prices from the start.
Local couriers and delivery partners
Domestic delivery is mostly handled by local courier companies that collect cash for the seller and transfer it back on a schedule. DHL Express and Aramex serve cross-border shipments. Delivery within Baghdad, Basra or Erbil can be quick, while other governorates take longer, so stores should show realistic times by city.
Arabic, Kurdish and social trust
Stores should be in Arabic, with right-to-left layouts, and in Kurdish if you sell in the Kurdistan Region. Shoppers trust brands with an active social presence, real product photos and quick replies. Clear prices in dinars, delivery fees shown upfront and an easy WhatsApp contact make the biggest difference to whether a first-time visitor orders.
Payments, delivery and compliance in Iraq
- Cash on delivery
- ZainCash
- Qi Card
- FastPay (Kurdistan Region)
- Locally issued Visa & Mastercard
- Bank transfer
- Local cash-on-delivery couriers
- DHL Express
- Aramex
- Own-fleet delivery in major cities
- Customs duties (federal Iraq & Kurdistan Region)
- Business registration for local payment providers
- Clear refusal & return policy for COD orders
Shopify agency services across Iraq
Working together
Iraq is 2.5 hours behind India all year, so most of your working day overlaps with ours. Note that the Iraqi weekend is Friday and Saturday, and we plan calls and releases around it rather than assuming a Western week.
Time zone: AST (UTC+3, no daylight saving). Currency: IQD (ع.د). Languages: Arabic, Kurdish.
How we work
Discovery call
We learn your goals, catalogue, tech stack and market, then agree what success looks like.
Audit & roadmap
A store, SEO and competitor audit turns into a prioritised roadmap with a timeline and fixed quote.
Design & build
UX, design and development in sprints, with a private preview store you review at every step.
Launch
QA across devices, redirects, tracking and a planned go-live with no downtime.
Grow
SEO, CRO and paid campaigns compound results month after month, with clear reporting.
Ongoing support
A dedicated team for fixes, new features and seasonal campaigns when you need them.
Frequently asked questions
Can we take online payments on a Shopify store in Iraq?
Shopify Payments and Stripe are not available to Iraq-based businesses, so most stores rely on cash on delivery. Some local wallets and payment companies offer ways to collect online payments, and we check which can connect to your store. If you have a company registered abroad, other options may open up.
How do you reduce refused cash-on-delivery orders?
We add order confirmation by WhatsApp or SMS, limits on order value for new customers, clear delivery fees and a simple refusal and return policy. Tagging repeat refusers in Shopify also helps. Together these steps cut the number of parcels that travel to a customer and come straight back.
Can our store be in Arabic and Kurdish?
Yes. Shopify supports right-to-left Arabic and multiple languages on one store. We set up Arabic as the main language, add Kurdish for customers in the Kurdistan Region and English if you sell abroad, with menus, emails and checkout translated, not just product pages.
Can a foreign brand sell to customers in Iraq?
Yes, usually through a local distributor or a fulfilment partner that holds stock in Iraq and handles cash on delivery. We connect their system to your Shopify store, set dinar pricing and Arabic content, and make sure stock and order status stay in sync.
How do you work with Iraqi brands from India?
The time difference is only 2.5 hours, so we meet during your working day. We plan around the Friday and Saturday weekend, keep tasks on a shared board and test every change on a staging store before customers see it.