The rolling hills that surround the city of Erbil in northern Iraq once helped the bustling Kurdish capital earn its reputation as the Switzerland of the Middle East. Beneath the verdant greenery which dominates this ancient landscape, however, lies the source of the region's prosperity -- lots of oil and gas. These bountiful natural resources combined with the relative stability of northern Iraq have helped fuel a nascent luxury property boom in recent years -- no mean feat in a country that has been pummeled by three wars, brutal dictatorship and recurring sectarian tensions over the last three decades. See also: Where are the world's most expensive luxury properties?
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Erbil in northern Iraq is experiencing a luxury property boom
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Vast oil and natural gas reserves have attracted investors from across the globe
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The city is situated far away from more volatile regions of the country which have experienced sectarian violence in recent years
But while business is booming for those at the higher end of the income spectrum,  not all is green and pleasant in @placeholder.