Ari Nanakali

Ari Farooq Hassan Nanakali () is an Iraqi Kurdish politician and a member of the Central Committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). He serves as the Head of Branch 16 of the KDP, which covers the central district of Erbil (Hawler), the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Nanakali is also identified with the Nanakaly family's contributions to healthcare in Erbil, specifically through the Nanakaly Hospital for Hematology & Oncology, a specialist cancer facility donated by his family to the Erbil General Health Directorate.

Early life and education

Ari Farooq Hassan Nanakali was born in 1974 in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He is the son of Farooq Hassan Nanakali (1944–2018), The Nanakali family is broadly identified with the Gorani-speaking tribes historically rooted in the region.

Nanakali attained his higher education at Salahaddin University-Erbil, where he graduated from the College of Law and Politics with a bachelor's degree in law. Prior to assuming senior political leadership roles, he was involved in the organizational hierarchy of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, specifically within the party's Organizational Bureau (Maktabi Rêkxistin).

Nanakali is also the author of a legal-historical book titled Constitution and Laws 1964–1965 ().

Membership in the Kurdistan Democratic Party

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP; ) was founded on 16 August 1946 and is the dominant political party in the Erbil and Duhok governorates. Nanakali serves as a member of the KDP's Central Committee, the party's principal governing body. He was elected to this position during the 14th General Congress of the party in 2022.

Political Stance and the 2017 Referendum

During the 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum, Ari Nanakali, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), emerged as a proponent of the vote. Nanakali framed the push for independence as a response to the historical persecution and destruction faced by the Kurdish population in Iraq. He argued that transition to statehood would facilitate the establishment of direct international trade agreements, which he asserted would strengthen the region's economic autonomy and political position.

Political Representation and Minority Relations

As a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Ari Nanakali has represented the party in various inter-ethnic political forums. In March 2023, Nanakali attended the inaugural congress of the Turkmen National Will Party (Turkish: Türkmen Millî İrade Partisi) in Erbil. His participation, alongside other Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials and representatives from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), was part of the regional effort to engage with Turkmen political entities and support ethnic representation within the Kurdistan Region's political landscape.

Appointment as Head of Branch 16 (2022–present)

In December 2022, Ari Nanakali was appointed as the head of Branch 16 of the KDP in Erbil, succeeding Krmanch Abdullah following an internal administrative restructuring. Branch 16 covers the central district of Erbil city and its surroundings. His role involves coordinating between the party's leadership, the local community, and government bodies to facilitate the delivery of public services.

Since 2022, Nanakali has regularly represented the KDP at official events in Erbil alongside the Governor of Erbil and other senior officials. He has participated in political meetings, cultural gatherings, and the monitoring of infrastructure projects within his constituency.

Diplomatic and Business Engagements

In June 2024, the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) inaugurated its new representative office in Erbil, Kurdistan Region. The event was attended by over 300 officials, including KRG ministers and international diplomats. Ari Nanakali, serving as the Head of the 16th Branch of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, was among the notable political figures invited to the ceremony. The event focused on strengthening bilateral economic ties and facilitating British investments in the region.

Public service activities and community engagement

In March 2024, he attended a tribal consultation meeting with elders and religious scholars of the Mantk tribe at the KDP Erbil Organisational Office. In July 2024, he participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for a road and bridge project in the Daratoo area. In March 2025, he attended the conclusion of the traditional Turkmen backgammon tournament (Sini û Zarf) held during Ramadan in Erbil. In March 2026, alongside the Erbil Governor, he attended the commemoration of a former KDP branch official.

He has described the KDP's role as a platform for conveying citizens' demands to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), stating in a 2024 interview that the party acts as a bridge to ensure the government provides services across all sectors.

The Nanakaly Hospital and family contribution to healthcare

The Nanakaly Hospital for Hematology & Oncology () is a specialist government hospital in Erbil and the principal center for treating blood diseases and cancer in the region.

Governance and History

The hospital was built by Ahmad Ismail Nanakali, a member of the Nanakaly family, and donated to the Erbil General Health Directorate. It officially opened on 16 May 2004.

By 2024, the hospital had become a regional hub, with a significant percentage of patients coming from outside the Kurdistan Region. In early 2025, the Director General of Health in Erbil announced a US$6 million expansion project for a new bone marrow transplant center, funded by the Nanakali family to reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for procedures.

Community events

The hospital hosts an annual Spring Festival (Fistîvala Behare) to raise funds for cancer treatment. The 2024 edition was attended by the Minister of Health and the Governor of Erbil. Additionally, the "Marathon of Hope" is organized annually to support oncology patients and promote awareness.

See also

• Kurdistan Democratic Party
• Nanakaly Hospital for Hematology & Oncology
• Erbil Governorate
• Kurdistan Region