Beginning in the early 1950s, the district became home to many of Baghdad's clubs, housing, employment, cultural activities, markets, private companies, and restaurants.

During the Royal Era of Iraq, al-Mansour Shareholding Company started to develop and plan out designs for the district.

It is known to be an avid shopping district that attracts those seeking luxury imported goods, modern marketplaces, and services including restaurants, cafes, and entertainment.

[7] On December 12, 1996, Uday Saddam Hussein was subjected to an assassination attempt while he was driving his golden Porsche in al-Mansour neighborhood.

[8][9] During the reign of Saddam Hussein, the horse racing field was moved to its current location in al-Ghazaliya in 1993.

[2] Architect Saher al-Qaisi was brought to prepare the designs and planning of what would become one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world that would rival the Taj Mahal in India.

After the plans were submitted that included details, measurements, and locations, in addition to the facades and their detailed treatment, in addition to the general site that includes private and public corridors, the minaret, the summer chapel, entrances, and service buildings; construction on what would become al-Rahman Mosque began in 1999.

[10][11] In 2004, the Umm al-Qura Mosque, a Sunni Mosque built by Saddam Hussein, saw a gathering of 200,000 Muslims, both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, to denounce the US-led occupation and pledge solidarity with the people of Fallujah as well as the uprising led by the Shi'a cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr.

The preacher of the Mosque, Dr. Harith al-Dhari, gave a speech denouncing the US-led occupation and democracy.

[12] During the sectarian unrest which occurred between 2006 and 2007, the district became a place of extreme contention and violence, resulting in street violence and bombings which displaced much of the population at the time resulting in extensive damage and depopulation of citizens due to the Sunni majority at the time leaving the district.

[2][11] Gradually, as the situation in Baghdad stabilized, markets, shopping malls, and luxury goods returned to the area.

[16][17] On February 13, 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, at 4:00 am, two Allied bombers flew over Baghdad and targeted the shelter, which was filled with residents from the area who had sought its safety.

The explosion, created by GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided "smart bombs", resulted in the killing of at least 408 civilians with only 14 survivors.

[2] A bronze bust of Abu Ja'far al-Mansur was erected in the Mansour district in 1979 and was designed to serve as a link between Iraq's illustrious past and its bright future.

[21] The work of Iraqi sculptor, Khaled al-Rahal, the statue base was bombed by unidentified armed men on October 18, 2005, the day former president Saddam Hussein was put on trial.