Foto Ney & Partners
The project worth about $700 million has been under construction for almost eight years and, according to the creators, was supposed to become a symbol of the country’s modernization, Bloomberg writes. The architecture of the building is inspired by the shape of the Saturn V rocket – the same one used in the Apollo program to send astronauts to the moon. Moroccan businessman Othman Benjelloun came up with the idea after his visit to NASA in the late 1960s.
The tower is located in the valley of the Bouregreg River, which separates Rabat and the city of Salé. Despite the fact that the skyscraper is still rising almost alone, the authorities are already planning to actively develop the surrounding area, turning the neighborhood into a new business and cultural center.
Inside the building, one of the most unusual hotels of the Waldorf Astoria brand is located – only 55 rooms, which makes it one of the most compact in the chain. In addition to the hotel, the tower includes premium offices, residential apartments and art spaces. The upper level features an observation deck with panoramic views of the capital region, including the Zaha Hadid-designed Royal Theater of Rabat.
The opening of the tower is part of a wider strategy to boost the tourist appeal of Rabat, which has long been overshadowed by popular destinations such as Marrakech and Fez. As Morocco prepares for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with European countries, authorities expect to see further growth in tourist traffic.
Despite challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to global economic turmoil, the project was completed, albeit over budget. Today, the Mohammed VI Tower becomes not only an architectural dominant, but also a symbol of the country’s ambitions in the international arena.
