Seventeen Arab ambassadors based in Madrid have asked Spain’s Foreign Ministry to intervene and stop Casa Árabe’s planned eviction from its historic headquarters. Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida set a September 1 deadline for the institution to leave the Escuelas Aguirre building, citing structural issues and the need for urgent repairs. He has described Casa Árabe’s continued occupation of the municipal property as unlawful, saying: “When I say they are illegally occupying Casa Árabe, it is because that is how I see it.”
In a letter to Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, the diplomats described Casa Árabe as a critical bridge between Spain and the Arab world. They said its current location, a neo-Mudéjar landmark near El Retiro, is integral to the center’s identity and Madrid’s reputation as a city open to cultural dialogue. The ambassadors warned that relocating Casa Árabe could undermine its mission and weaken Spain’s ties with Arab countries.
The former Escuelas Aguirre school complex was designed by architect Emilio Rodríguez Ayuso and built between 1881 and 1886. Its exposed brickwork and geometric ornamentation define Madrid’s neo-Mudéjar architecture; the building’s viewing tower stands approximately 37 metres high. In 2024, Madrid City Council promoted adding more than 200 representative neo-Mudéjar buildings to the city’s protected-building catalogue, placing the dispute over the headquarters within a wider debate about the capital’s architectural heritage.
The city council, which owns the building, says years of insufficient maintenance have left it in need of major conservation work. Officials say they have repeatedly tried, without success, to reach an agreement with the Foreign Ministry, which oversees Casa Árabe. Mayor Martínez-Almeida has criticized the ministry’s handling of the situation, saying Albares has not engaged in negotiations.
The Foreign Ministry disputes this account. Ministry sources say the mayor’s decision to reclaim the property came suddenly and without institutional cooperation. They note that the city council sits on Casa Árabe’s governing board and has participated in major decisions about its management. The ministry says the council had not previously raised objections or concerns about the building’s condition at board meetings.
Diplomatic sources describe the city’s contribution of the Escuelas Aguirre site as a basic part of its support for Casa Árabe, both symbolically and financially. They also say the city has provided no technical or financial assistance in recent years to address the building’s deterioration. The Foreign Ministry says it has sent several letters to the mayor requesting urgent action and a meeting to discuss Casa Árabe’s future, but has received no response.
The dispute has drawn attention to broader tensions between Madrid’s city government and national authorities over the management of public institutions. The Foreign Ministry views the eviction order as a partisan move that could harm Spain’s diplomatic efforts in the Arab world. The situation echoes other recent conflicts over public assets in Madrid, including the city’s transfer of land for elderly care homes, which also sparked debate over municipal property. The issue was covered in detail when Madrid handed over public plots for private care home development.
Established in 2006, Casa Árabe is a public consortium created to encourage cultural ties and support diplomatic and educational exchange between Spain and Arab and Muslim countries. It operates under a consortium that includes the Foreign Ministry, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Andalusian regional government, and the city councils of Madrid and Córdoba. The center sits within Spain’s broader public diplomacy network, alongside Casa de América and Casa Asia, as well as Casa Mediterráneo and Centro Sefarad-Israel.
Students enrolled in Casa Árabe’s Arabic language courses have also contacted the Foreign Ministry, seeking assurances that their studies will not be disrupted by a potential move. The ministry has reiterated its commitment to finding a solution that preserves the center’s activities and, if possible, keeps it at its current location.
The standoff reflects the complex relationship between local and national authorities in Spain as they manage institutions with international significance. Its outcome could set a precedent for similar disputes, as Madrid continues to position itself as a global cultural and diplomatic hub.
