Al-Maidan Square (), also known as just al-Maidan, is an old locality and area located in al-Rusafa district in Baghdad, Iraq, that begins from Bab al-Mu'azzam to al-Rasheed Street. The square includes many buildings, markets, departments, government headquarters and neighborhoods where officials such as former Iraqi Prime Ministers Nuri al-Said and Ja'far al-Askari lived.
Confined between al-Rasheed Street and al-Jumhuriya Street, al-Maidan Square is considered one of the most prominent landmarks of Baghdad.
History
The name "al-Maidan" means "the square". The area was designated for military purposes in the 9th century. Under Ottoman rule, the area was also used as a military training base for Ottoman soldiers who rested in the Qushla. The square was transformed from the place of the morning training of the Ottoman army to become a place for selling hay and barley to owners of horse-drawn carriages, and on Fridays the square turns into a place where Mamluks coming from the countries of Russia, the Caucasus, Armenia and Central Asia are sold. Executions were also held in the square. British traveler and journalist James Silk Buckingham had visited Baghdad during Ramadan in the early 19th century and described al-Maiden in his second volume of "Travels in Mesopotamia", he noted:The place of the Maidan never failed to be crowded every night, with people of all classes; and every mode of diversion in use here, singing, dancing and music, with blazing fires, lamps, etc. were called in, to add to the effect of the general rejoicing.Buckingham had also visited the main mosque of al-Maidan which was al-Ahmadiya Mosque and described it as having a "handsome dome and minaret" and was amazed by its colored tiles and paintings but was disappointed to finding that the inside wasn't special outside of being clean and well lighted. During the era of British colonialism, a part of the square was taken to be built into a nightclub. There was also a famous hotel in the square, the Crescent Hotel, where Umm Kulthum famously sang during her visit in 1932. It is said that due to the small space of its hall, people in the square rented seats to listen to the lady's singing after he had the hotel owners set up loudspeakers. The area has also become significant for the first sparks of demonstrations, coups, and sit-ins, in addition to its corridors, which were a focus for secret meetings and the beginning of national political activities against various regimes.
Al-Maidan Square is also famous for being the main garage area for the red double-decker buses that were iconic in Iraq and were a unique feature for the country. The first batch of red buses entered Iraq at the end of 1951 after demands for public transportation grew, consisting of 100 buses, and began operating in the streets of Baghdad. In the same year, another group of 20 double-decker buses arrived. Since that time, Baghdadis have become accustomed to these buses, which are distinguished by their red color, and which operate on regular lines and schedules. The red buses were nicknamed "secretariats" by Iraqis and materialized a spirit of competition between Baghdad and London when it came to public transportation. These buses were distinguished by their punctuality and low costs.
After recent events, al-Maidan Square declined and was described as a "poor courtyard containing only some of those who earn a living through simple work and others who used to frequent it." The street was filled with piles of waste. It became full of street vendors who blocked the sidewalks, as well as murderers, thieves, drug dealers, harassers, and bandits who attacked passers-by in light of the deteriorating security situation.
In 2016, al-Maidan Square was reopened by the Ministry of Transport and announced the operation of five lines to transport passengers on both sides of Baghdad.
Notable establishments
There are many notable establishments in al-Maidan Square that exists to this day due to the popular commercial activities in the area. One of these is al-Sayyid's Cakes which is famous for selling pastries, especially cakes, since 1907. In front of al-Sayyid's Cakes is Hajj Zabala Juice famous for selling raisin syrup, which dates back to 1900.