Iraq GuideIraq is a country in the Middle East. It lies at the north end of the Persian Gulf and has a small coastline in the southeast of the country. It is surrounded by Iran to the east, Kuwait to the south, Saudi Arabia to the southwest, Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, and Turkey to the north. HotelsFind hotels in Erbil and more. BaghdadBaghdad is the capital of Iraq. Once one of the greatest centres of learning and culture in the Islamic world, Baghdad has a long and illustrious history. ArbilArbil is a city in Iraqi Kurdistan. Before, Kurdistan had 2 capital cities; but after an agreement on August 1, 2006, Kurdistan now is a whole part, with Arbil as capital. MosulMosul is a city in Iraq's Al Jazira region, and is the country's second largest city by population. Iraqi KurdistanKurdistan refers to portions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, however only the Iraqi region of Kurdistan is discussed here. Al JaziraAl Jazira is a region largely between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the north of Iraq. Baghdad BeltsThe Baghdad Belts are at the cultural and political center of Iraq, radiating outward from the center at Baghdad. Lower MesopotamiaLower Mesopotamia, the Cradle of Civilization stretches south of Iraq's Baghdad Belts to Kuwait, in the Land between the Rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris. Iraqi DesertThe Iraqi Desert covers the western and southwestern parts of Iraq, spanning an enormous, but barely populated region of desert wasteland.