An unlikely growth market: EL&N’s Iraq debut shows the troubled nation is turning a corner

Famed for its floral interiors, specialty coffee and high-end pastries, the UK’s EL&N sees potential in the Iraqi market – and it’s not alone

To many in the West, Iraq is synonymous with conflict and instability. However, a recent influx of premium and boutique hospitality brands shows that the country is turning a corner on its recent troubled history – and becoming an unlikely growth market for branded coffee chains. 

UK-based specialty coffee group EL&N is the latest premium hospitality operator to launch in Iraq, opening a boutique outlet at the upscale Erbil Avenue shopping centre and mixed-use development in Erbil, the capital and most populous city in the Kurdistan region.