Mr. Wadee Al Handal Joined The Prime Minister’s Committee for the ‘Pulse of Baghdad’ Initiative in UAE to Discuss the Rehabilitation of Baghdad’s Old City with Japanese Architect Sohiko Yamada

The Prime Minister’s Committee for the “Pulse of Baghdad” initiative recently held a meeting in the United Arab Emirates with renowned Japanese architect Sohiko Yamada, the original designer of Baghdad’s Old City development project in the 1980s.

The meeting was attended by our Chairman, Mr. Wadee Al Handal, a member of the Diwani Order Committee and President of the Iraqi Private Banks League; Dr. Arif Al-Saadi, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Cultural Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Rehabilitation of Historic Baghdad; Dr. Ali Hassan Lafteh, Technical Undersecretary of the Baghdad Municipality; Yaqzan Al-Waeli, Director General of the Projects Department at the Baghdad Municipality; and Engineer Huda Ibrahim Al-Hassani, Director General of the Designs Department at the Baghdad Municipality.

During the meeting, a comprehensive urban vision for the rehabilitation of Old Baghdad was discussed, focusing on modernizing designs while preserving the city’s identity and integrating its rich heritage with contemporary urban planning. The project covers key historic areas, including Al-Rashid Street, Al-Maidan Square, Al-Mutanabbi Street, and the surrounding districts. Mr. Yamada also handed over the initial design plans to the Iraqi delegation, reaffirming his commitment to supporting the upcoming phases of the initiative.

Participants reviewed developments related to the Prime Minister’s directive on the “Pulse of Baghdad” initiative and explored opportunities to further strengthen cooperation with international expertise, particularly the Japanese experience led by Mr. Yamada.

The attendees commended the role of Mr. Wadee Al Handal, for his support of this important meeting, which represents a significant step in bringing together governmental efforts, international expertise, and investment perspectives to advance the “Pulse of Baghdad” project toward its implementation stages.

This meeting is part of ongoing efforts to revive and develop Baghdad’s historic center in line with international standards, contributing to the creation of a more sustainable, culturally vibrant, and modern urban environment.