Open public spaces as a tool for activating the urban branding of the city of Baghdad

The research demonstrates the role of open public spaces (public squares) in activating the urban branding of the city, especially the Iraqi city (Baghdad), through the selection of Tahrir Square and Al-Umma Park as a case study. The research aims to provide extensive knowledge, especially local knowledge, about the role of open public spaces (public squares) as a tool to activate the urban branding of the city, especially the city of Baghdad. Through the statement of the various dimensions of open public spaces (economic, cultural, social, environmental, and political), and the statement of the components of the image of the city, the identity of the city and the place achieved through open public spaces, and the evaluation of spatial quality criteria for public spaces (urban squares), using the descriptive analytical approach (electronic questionnaire) for the general public in the city. The results show that Tahrir Square and Al-Umma Park effectively achieve the various dimensions of open public spaces, as it is a mixed-use space. in addition to that, the results showed that the square and the park played a crucial role in enhancing the image of the city of Baghdad in particular, and Iraq in general, by considering it as a prominent urban icon.