Leaders from government, business, civil society, and academia will meet in Davos to address global challenges and set priorities, with renewed calls for bold collective action highlighting the meeting’s importance.
PM Masrour Barzani joins Trump, Macron, and 3,000 leaders at Davos 2026. The forum focuses on dialogue amid global shifts, with record government and tech participation.
Over five days at the World Economic Forum, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani executed an intensive diplomatic campaign to boost the Kurdistan Region's global standing and attract investment.
PM Barzani held a series of significant bilateral meetings with global leaders, including the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, senior ministers from European nations like France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and key officials from Arab states such as Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and Egypt. Key outcomes included an invitation to visit Baku with an offer to open an Azerbaijani consulate in Erbil, and recognition from Austria of successful cooperation on migration.
Throughout the talks, the Prime Minister consistently advocated for international investment and trade cooperation. He also addressed pressing regional security issues, focusing on the escalation in Syria and emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and the protection of Kurdish rights. PM Barzani concluded the forum by stating the Region was leaving with stronger international coordination, underscoring a core strategy built on dialogue over conflict, rights over exclusion, and investment over uncertainty.
Photos from Prime Minister Masrour Barzani's meetings with officials and heads of state at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos. (Graphic: Kurdistan24)
As the curtains closed on the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani departed the global stage carrying a clear and consistent message centered on dialogue, rights, and economic confidence, underscoring the Kurdistan Region’s continued engagement with international partners.
Leaving #WEF26 this year with stronger coordination with partners, and a consistent message: dialogue over conflict, rights over exclusion, investment over uncertainty. #KurdistanInDavospic.twitter.com/r9s1MPGHFU
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani concluded his visit to Davos following his participation in the World Economic Forum 2026, marking the end of a series of high-level engagements held on the margins of the international gathering.
In a message shared on His official X, Barzani said: “Leaving #WEF26 this year with stronger coordination with partners, and a consistent message: dialogue over conflict, rights over exclusion, investment over uncertainty.”
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Kuwait’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Khalifa Al Ajeel, on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said in a statement.
The meeting focused on ways to further develop bilateral relations, particularly in the fields of investment and trade. Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening economic cooperation and encouraging greater engagement between the private sectors of the Kurdistan Region and Kuwait.
Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to creating a favorable environment for investors, underscoring ongoing reforms aimed at boosting economic growth and diversifying sources of income. Minister Al Ajeel, for his part, expressed Kuwait’s interest in expanding commercial ties and exploring new opportunities for cooperation with the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah al-Hashimi on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, where the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations and addressing key regional developments.
According to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the meeting focused on further developing the friendly and special relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Prime Minister Barzani expressed his appreciation for Jordan’s continued support for the Kurdistan Region, as well as for the backing of King Abdullah II.
For his part, Crown Prince Hussein conveyed King Abdullah II’s greetings to Prime Minister Barzani and reaffirmed Jordan’s readiness to continue supporting the Kurdistan Region across various fields.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday said significant progress has been made toward maintaining a ceasefire in Western Kurdistan (northeastern Syria), emphasizing ongoing efforts to end the fighting and promote stability, peace, and economic growth.
Speaking at a press conference in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Prime Minister Barzani said the situation in Western Kurdistan was a central topic in his meetings with international leaders, stressing the need for global support to halt violence and protect Kurdish people.
“We were able to present the situation in Western Kurdistan in Davos and made serious efforts to establish peace and end the war,” Barzani said. “I hope that fear will dissipate and peace will be established.”
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani used the World Economic Forum in Davos as a platform to seek international backing for the rights and protection of Kurds in Syria, placing the issue at the center of his diplomatic engagements with world leaders and senior officials.
During his participation in the 56th World Economic Forum, Barzani made the situation in western Kurdistan (Rojavaya Kurdistan) a key item on the agenda of his meetings, urging the international community to support Kurdish rights and to work toward ending instability in the region.
He stressed that respect for the political, civil, and cultural rights of the Kurdish people in Syria is essential and must not be violated. In a series of high-level meetings, Barzani delivered what his office described as a clear and unified message that Kurdish rights in Syria must be respected.
US President Donald Trump is set to formally unveil his controversial new “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, positioning the initiative as a central pillar of his foreign policy as he also prepares to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
On his second day at the Swiss resort, Trump will preside over a signing ceremony for the board’s charter, promoting what he describes as a new global mechanism for resolving international conflicts.
The launch comes one day after the US president abruptly reversed course on threats to impose tariffs on Europe and to use military force to seize Greenland from Denmark, moves that had unsettled allies and dominated discussions among global leaders in Davos.
Trump announced on Wednesday that he would scrap the proposed tariffs and rule out military action against Greenland, partially defusing a crisis that had overshadowed the forum.
Prime Minister Barzani underscored the Kurdistan Region’s strong potential across multiple sectors, outlining the wide-ranging reforms implemented by the KRG's ninth cabinet to improve governance, enhance transparency, and create a more attractive environment for investors.
PM Barzani highlights Kurdistan Region’s investment potential in Davos on the sidelines of WEF2026 pic.twitter.com/M4GAZN8aCJ
Austria has described its cooperation with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as a strong and practical example of effective partnership in migration policy, emphasizing the importance of reliable partners in countries of origin.
In a statement published on the social media platform X, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Christian Stocker said that successful migration policies depend fundamentally on trustworthy partners, highlighting cooperation with the Kurdistan Region as a model that demonstrates how such partnerships can function in practice, including in matters related to the return and readmission of migrants.
Stocker noted that Iraq serves as a role model for stability and economic development in the region, adding that Austria places high value on its constructive and trustworthy cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The meeting focused on strengthening relations between the Kurdistan Region and the United Arab Emirates, with both sides emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation across multiple sectors.
Prime Minister Barzani praised the strong ties between Erbil and Abu Dhabi, highlighting the UAE’s ongoing support, particularly in the areas of training, human capacity development, and the modernization of administrative systems within KRG institutions.
He also expressed his appreciation to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for their sustained support for the Kurdistan Region.
For his part, Al Gergawi welcomed the meeting and reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to maintaining close coordination with the KRG and providing necessary assistance in various fields to further enhance bilateral relations.
