Al-Sudani Orders Establishment of Municipal Center for Heritage Areas in Historic Baghdad

INA-  BAGHDAD


Media Office of the Prime Minister said in a statement obtained by the Iraqi News Agency INA that Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani conducted a field visit this morning, Wednesday, to Al-Rasheed Street, where he followed up on the ongoing work in Phase Three of the Downtown Baghdad historical revitalization project. This phase includes the renovation and restoration of buildings stretching from Al-Midan Square to Al-Rusafi Square.

The statement read “The Prime Minister toured the street and visited some of its iconic landmarks, such as the heritage Hassan Ajami Café and Hajj Zabala Juice Shop. He noted that work is continuing throughout the Eid holiday, carried out by Iraqi engineering and technical staff, with meticulous planning and detailed studies for each building based on its function and architectural condition. He emphasized the importance of preserving the unique architectural character of Al-Rasheed Street and executing a vision that befits this historically rich artery of Baghdad—one that represents Iraq’s modern political, cultural, and social memory. The project aims to revive the street after years of neglect.”

It further said “Prime Minister Al-Sudani stressed that the project goes beyond reconstruction and renovation, pointing to the need for sustainability through the establishment of a dedicated municipal center to manage this historical and touristic site. He underscored the importance of cooperation from citizens, particularly property owners, encouraging them to align their commercial activities with the street’s distinctive identity.”

The statement also added that “The Prime Minister also confirmed that work will proceed toward launching Phase Four of the restoration process. He commended the efforts of all supporting entities involved in the project, including the various service departments, the Association of Private Banks, and the Central Bank of Iraq.”

“Phase Three includes the restoration and repair of façades of historic and heritage buildings, the rehabilitation of infrastructure systems, and other civil works,” the statement concluded.