Measuring Housing Competitiveness Indicators in Residential Investment Projects in Iraq

Abstract This study examines the competitiveness of residential investment projects in Iraq's housing sector, identifying challenges and proposing sustainable solutions through competitive strategies. Iraq's housing sector, a critical component of economic and social stability, faces significant structural, regulatory, and economic challenges, including rising costs, inadequate legislation, and insufficient funding. Additionally, demographic pressures and environmental issues exacerbate the housing deficit. Drawing on economic and managerial theories, the study categorizes housing competitiveness indicators into economic, quality, value-added, and diversity metrics, while identifying internal and external competitive drivers such as administrative efficiency, innovation, and government policies. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates theoretical and applied analyses. Data were collected through expert interviews, surveys, and secondary sources, with findings analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SPSS. The study evaluates the competitiveness of four major housing projects: Bismayah Residential City, Badur Baghdad, Bayti, and Jasmine Garden. Results highlight disparities in economic competitiveness, quality, market value, and diversity indicators, with Bismayah outperforming in economic metrics but facing challenges in design innovation and inclusivity. Conversely, Jasmine Garden struggles with low market value and project delays, negatively impacting its competitiveness. The study concludes that enhancing competitiveness in Iraq's housing sector requires innovative cost-reduction strategies, robust regulatory frameworks, improved infrastructure, and targeted support for social housing. By aligning local housing policies with global best practices, the study offers actionable insights to address Iraq's housing challenges and foster sustainable development. Keywords: Housing competitiveness, residential projects, Iraq, economic indicators, housing quality, value-added indicators, diversity and allocation, Relative Importance Index (RII), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).