Morocco has opened a $700 million, 55-story skyscraper in the capital Rabat, underscoring the country's expanding global ambitions. The Mohammed VI Tower, named for the king and inspired by a rocket on its launchpad, stands 820 feet tall and features a luxury Waldorf Astoria hotel, offices, shops, restaurants, and upscale apartments.
A Landmark for Development
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. Located in Salé, Rabat's twin city, the tower was built over eight years with more than 2,500 workers from over a dozen countries. It has already appeared on Morocco's 200-dirham (about $20) banknote.
The skyscraper stands near the Grand Theatre of Rabat, designed by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, and offers views of the Atlantic Ocean and the twin cities. Haddaoui noted that the project positions Rabat and Salé—often overlooked by tourists—on the international stage as part of a broader tourism push.
Economic and Soft Power Ambitions
Already Africa's most visited country, Morocco relies heavily on tourism and is seeking to attract more visitors, especially as regional conflicts steer travelers toward perceived safer destinations. The effort coincides with Morocco's preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. For its founders, the tower symbolizes Morocco's growing soft power in Africa and the Middle East, reflecting the country's ambition to become a leading regional player through high-profile development projects.
However, critics argue that development is concentrated along Morocco's Atlantic corridor, leaving other areas underdeveloped. Last year, Gen Z-led protests highlighted grievances over high unemployment and struggling public services.
Visionary Origins
The tower, with a total area of more than 102,800 square meters (about 1.1 million square feet), was conceived by Othmane Benjelloun, a 93-year-old billionaire who owns Bank of Africa, a Moroccan bank once state-owned and now highly influential across the continent. According to a statement by tower management, Benjelloun was invited by NASA in 1969 to a spaceflight simulation ahead of the Apollo 12 mission to the moon, and the idea for the skyscraper was born from that visit.
