[3] It was built as a small postern gate in the 16th century by the Ottomans, first widened for vehicular traffic in 1952 by the Jordanians, and again in 1985 by the Israeli authorities.

This name alludes to the Mughrabi Quarter, a neighborhood of North African Kutama Fatimids, which was historically situated just inside the gate.

The Maghrebi Muslims were renowned for their valour in fighting alongside Salah al-Din, who resettled them on the western side of Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to re-Islamize the city.

This was done in commemoration of an ancient gate in the Jerusalem wall from the Hebrew Bible (Nehemiah 3:13–14) which was located near the Pool of Siloam in the days of the Second Temple.

[7] Towards the end of Ottoman rule, a new gate tower or gatehouse was added, but this time outside the wall, in a style that blended in with the 16th-century fortifications.

[7] This outer tower was demolished by the British Mandate officials in 1938, probably as part of their drive to restore the walls to their original look, this bringing back to light the old stone decorations.

[7][8] In 1952, when the gate was widened by the Jordanian authorities to allow cars and buses to pass through it, a reinforced concrete girder was installed under the old stone arch.