Inside the New Mega-Scale American Consulate in Erbil

The United States has inaugurated its largest consulate facility worldwide in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, in a move widely viewed as a significant expansion of long-term diplomatic, political, and security presence.

The project broke ground in July 2018 and cost more than $795 million to build, covering approximately 206,000 square meters, the equivalent of 51 acres. Designed as a self-contained mini-city rather than a traditional administrative complex, the consulate includes office buildings, accommodation zones for staff and security teams, visitor housing, parking areas, a retail outlet, and extensive green spaces.

The compound also integrates advanced environmental systems such as wastewater recycling and solar-based power generation, alongside underground protection infrastructure, counter-drone technology, and layered defense mechanisms aimed at mitigating air and missile threats.

The site is expected to employ nearly 1,000 specialists across technical, security, and administrative roles. The formal opening was led by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael Regas, with the mission presented as a step to deepen bilateral cooperation.

The development follows years of delays stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, security constraints, and design revisions.