<p>Research into earthquake damage prevention has gained paramount importance following recent devastating seismic events, particularly regarding the assessment of building vulnerability in urban areas—a critical component of earthquake disaster management strategies. Duhok City has experienced significant population growth over the past twenty years, coupled with relative seismic inactivity. This combination has led to rapid urban development with minimal consideration for earthquake resistance in construction practices. While identifying high-risk structures is essential for both potential loss estimation and prioritizing structural reinforcement efforts, comprehensive structural assessment remains impractical due to the vast number of buildings and associated costs. This study employs Rapid Visual Screening (RVS), a widely accepted seismic vulnerability assessment methodology, to evaluate building safety across Duhok City in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The findings reveal that approximately 10% of the city’s building stock faces potential collapse under projected major seismic events. The results have been integrated into a GIS-based mapping system to facilitate strategic planning, providing local authorities with a practical tool for prioritizing structural safety interventions across Duhok’s built environment.</p>