Morocco opens $700M skyscraper as it boosts global ambitions

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) Towering over the Moroccan capital’s historic cityscape, a $700 million, 55-story skyscraper opened this week in a move that underscores the country’s expanding global ambitions.

Named for King Mohammed VI and inspired by a rocket on its launchpad, the Mohammed VI Tower rises 820 feet and will feature a luxury Waldorf Astoria hotel, offices, shops, restaurants and upscale apartments.

Among Africa’s tallest skyscrapers, the tower is expected to generate 450 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect ones, according to Leila Haddaoui, director of development company O Tower.

The building stands in Salé, the twin city of Rabat, and was constructed over eight years with the involvement of more than 2,500 workers from over a dozen countries. It has already appeared on Morocco’s 200-dirham (about $20) banknote.

Located near the Grand Theatre of Rabat, designed by the late Zaha Hadid, the tower offers views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding twin cities.

With the project, Morocco is positioning Rabat and Salé often overlooked by tourists on the international stage as part of a broader tourism push. Already Africa’s most visited country, Morocco is seeking to attract more visitors, particularly as regional conflicts are believed to steer travelers toward perceived safer destinations.

The effort comes as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

For its founders, the newly inaugurated tower is a symbol of Morocco’s growing soft power in Africa and the Middle East, reflecting ambitions to expand its regional influence through high-profile development projects.

However, critics say development remains concentrated along Morocco’s Atlantic corridor, while other areas lag behind. Protests led by younger generations last year highlighted concerns over high unemployment and struggling public services.

The tower, with a total area of more than 102,800 square meters (about 1.1 million square feet), was conceived by Othmane Benjelloun, owner of the Bank of Africa. According to tower management, the idea dates back to a 1969 visit to a spaceflight simulation ahead of the Apollo 12 mission.

TNAM
Edited By Egwu Patience Nnennaya