Al Rasheed Street

Al-Rasheed Street stands as one of the oldest and most iconic avenues in Baghdad a timeless symbol of the city’s diverse history and a stage for its cultural, political, and social events.

It was named after the Abbasid Caliph Harun Al Rasheed, whose era marked the golden age of Baghdad. However, the street’s history predates its name.

Its origins trace back to the Ottoman era, when Khalil Pasha the Ottoman governor of Baghdad and military commander carved a strategic road extending from Bab Al Sharqi to Bab Al Mu'azzam. It was initially called "Khalil Pasha Caddesi" (Khalil Pasha Avenue), a military project aimed at facilitating the movement of Ottoman troops and carriages. The road was hastily completed in 1910 despite facing legal, social, and financial obstacles, which led to adjustments in its path often at the expense of properties owned by the poor, the absent, or those without heirs.

With the British occupation of Baghdad in 1917, the name of the street changed first to “Hindenburg Street”, then to “Victory Street”, before it finally settled during the monarchy on “Al Rasheed Street” a name that would become a national icon etched into memory and maps alike. Al Rasheed is more than a geographic label; it is a cultural artery pulsing with collective memory.

The street stretches from Al Maidan Square near Bab Al Mu'azzam, through the old markets like Al Shorja, all the way to Bab Al Sharqi forming a bridge between commerce and spirit, religion and culture, past and present. It was once home to literary cafés, poetry readings, newly opened cinemas, and the bustling world of newspapers and political discourse. The street housed major landmarks such as the Haidar Khana Mosque and Al Saray Market, and became a stage for Baghdad’s public life from national parades to popular uprisings, including the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Abd Al Karim Qasim following the July 14 Revolution in 1958.

One of the most notable cultural landmarks born on this street was the Jaqmaqji Phonograph Company, established in 1918. It became a sonic and cultural beacon, recording the voices of Iraqi musical legends such as Mohammed Al Qubbanji, Nazem Al Ghazali, Dakhil Hassan, Hadheri Abu Aziz, and Salima Pasha. The company even recorded Arab icons like Umm Kulthum, Abdel Halim Hafez, and Farid Al Atrash, creating a musical archive that later became a national treasure.

Al Rasheed Street also witnessed a historic visit by Umm Kulthum in 1932, when she performed a series of concerts at the Al Hilal Cabaret. The ticket prices were unprecedented for the time. The Al Istiqlal newspaper covered the event with an article titled “The Magic of Babylon and Pharaoh in Al Hilal Cabaret”, noting that the “Star of the East” gave twelve performances starting October 18, 1932 a moment that captured the city’s awe before a living legend.

On both sides of the street, cinemas once flourished such as Royal, Central, Al Rasheed, Al Zawraa, and the open-air Rafidain Cinema. Some later transformed into theaters or commercial centers, like Al Zawraa Cinema and Roxy Cinema, now known as “Al Najah Theater”. Each transformation added a new layer to the street’s evolving narrative.

But with the wars and turmoil that Iraq experienced in recent decades, Al Rasheed Street fell into a period of stagnation and neglect. That began to change in 2023 with the launch of the “Pulse of Baghdad” initiative a government-led project to revive the old city, starting with Al Mutanabbi Street, which was renovated and reactivated as a lively cultural hub. This was followed by the restoration of Al Saray Street, preserving its historic architectural character. Today, Al Rasheed Street stands in the final stages of its rehabilitation, awaiting the official announcement of its reopening a cultural and touristic gateway aiming to restore Baghdad as we knew it: a city that resists oblivion and reclaims its glory through the dew of memory.