Al‑Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad—renowned for its libraries—reopened on Saturday following restoration work that has allowed this vital artery of the Iraqi capital to reclaim some of its former glory.
The street normally teems with visitors on Fridays, especially students and young people, as well as artists and intellectuals from earlier generations.
The historic thoroughfare was named in 1932, during the reign of King Faisal I, after the famous poet Abū Ṭayyib al‑Mutanabbī (915–965), who was born under the Abbasid Caliphate.
Along the length of the newly repaved street, shopfronts constructed of brick were cleaned and repainted, decorative wrought‑iron balconies and rows of columns were refurbished, and small wooden signs bearing each shop’s name were hung above their entrances.
Festive lights—reminiscent of Christmas decorations—adorned many of the balconies, and while only a few shops opened their doors, the sounds of Iraqi songs played over loudspeakers amid the celebratory atmosphere. Visitors, permitted by security forces to stroll the street, held up their mobile phones to capture the festivities.
Seventy‑five‑year‑old Zuhayr al‑Jazāʾirī, a regular visitor since the 1960s, said, “This street is very important to Iraq’s history, dating back to the Ottoman era… King Faisal was even crowned not far from here.”
He added, “I felt a beautiful sensation—this is the first place in central Baghdad to look truly beautiful again, and I noticed the difference compared to other streets. I hope the restoration will also extend to al‑Rashid Street,” which runs parallel to it.
