Mosul heritage: Manaf Al-Saleh’s mission to preserve the city’s past

MOSUL — Manaf Al-Saleh, a prominent antique collector and dealer from Mosul, has spent years traveling to neighboring countries in search of treasures from Iraq’s past.

Inspired by his father’s passion for preserving antiques, particularly those from Iraq’s royal era, Al-Saleh turned his childhood hobby into a livelihood.

Starting with a small shop in the Khazraj area of Mosul’s west, he expanded his business to the historic Khan Qasim Agha in Bab Al-Saray, where he now dreams of establishing a museum to showcase the city’s heritage.

“I aspire to open a large museum in Mosul that houses all the antiques I have collected over the years,” he told 964media. “I hope to establish a grand hall resembling a museum, where these precious treasures can be displayed for visitors.”

Al-Saleh’s collection includes a wide range of historical artifacts, such as rare crystal, coins, stamps, pottery and woodwork, each representing Mosul’s rich cultural legacy. His most prized pieces include antiques he retrieved during travels to Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey, where he purchased items that had left Iraq during the 1980s, bringing them back to their homeland.

“Tourism in Mosul, especially in the old city, has started to improve. I am working to support it through my efforts, as the city deserves revival and development,” he stated.

Before the Islamic State occupation of Mosul in 2014, Al-Saleh’s antique shops flourished in areas like Bab Al-Toub and Al-Jami’a. After the city’s liberation, he resumed his work, opening stores in multiple locations, including Kurdistan Region capital Erbil, before returning to Mosul’s old city. He has since focused on supporting Mosul’s growing tourism sector by reviving its historic areas, which he believes deserve international attention.

“I came to this place with the aim of promoting tourism and reviving the old city because Mosul, with its rich history, deserves this effort,” he added.