Mahir Polat, the man who elevates the aesthetic value of Istanbul's landscape by integrating its historical texture... He's managed to protect areas that haven't been protected for years in just 4-5 years... Look at that! He explains so clearly why and how the work he's done and will do should contribute to the city's people.

Could his success in this area have led to what happened to him? So, being a mayor means choosing experienced and capable cadres. So, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's "Istanbul Guard" isn't just empty rhetoric.

Mahir Polat, the guardian of Istanbul…

Mahir Polat graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Archaeology and Art History in 2002. He completed his master's degree in cultural management at Yıldız Technical University, Institute of Social Sciences, and worked as a lecturer at the same university between 2011 and 2015.

He later earned his doctorate in religious and cultural heritage at Istanbul University. Mahir Polat began his career in 2005 as a foundation specialist at the General Directorate of Foundations, working on the restoration of Ottoman-era works in Anatolia and Istanbul. He was involved in the establishment of numerous museums. With Ekrem İmamoğlu's election as Mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), he became Head of the Cultural Heritage Department and was appointed Deputy Secretary General of the IMM a year later.

During his tenure at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), he established the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Heritage and oversaw the restoration of 942 heritage sites. This included the restoration of 62 monuments and civil architecture, 21 new museums and living spaces, the preservation of 34 public art pieces, 197 registered fountains, 588 historical graves and cemeteries, and the renovation of 19 historical mausoleums. Polat also contributed the Fatih (Conqueror) portrait and the Kanuni (Suleiman the Magnificent) portrait to Istanbul.