Iraqi And Saudi Competition Authorities Sign MoU

On 20 February 2025 the Saudi General Authority for Competition (GAC) and the Iraqi Competition and Antitrust Council (CAC) signed an MoU to promote cooperation competition law matters between the countries. From a Saudi perspective this step is not out of the ordinary. The GAC has been one of the most active enforcers in the MENA region since the Kingdom revised their competition law effective late 2019. For the CAC on the other hand signing the MoU with the GAC marks a break. Iraq so far has not been an active antitrust or merger control jurisdictions. Whether singing this MoU with the GAC ushers in an active competition law regime in Iraq or with this was just an anomaly remains to be seen.