US magazine ranks Morocco’s Rabat among 50 greatest destinations in 2023

Morocco’s capital city Rabat is among the 50 greatest destinations to explore in 2023, according to American news magazine Time.

The ranking was based on steeper costs and increased interest in sustainability and authenticity.

Artistic and cultural reinvention is bringing new life to the capital city of Rabat, the magazine wrote, noting that in 2023, LEED-Gold and HQE-certified Mohammed VI Tower will stand as the tallest tower in Africa, boasting luxury accommodations and a panoramic viewing terrace at approximately 800 feet.

The magazine also mentioned the newly completed multifunctional cultural venue Le Grand Theatre de Rabat. With a 1,821 seat hall, the institution is the largest theater in the Arab world and in Africa. Opening in 2023, it will host ballet, opera, symphony, and philharmonic performances. The innovative building, shaped like an undulating wave, contains a crystalline geometric auditorium designed by famed Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, as well as a 7,000-seat amphitheater, green spaces, a restaurant, workshops, and a bookstore.

In 2023, the city will host Visa for Music, an annual festival focusing on emerging artists from Africa and the Middle East, Time pointed out, adding that for movie-goers, Rabat’s own Festival International du Cinéma d’Auteur will showcase 18 films. Visitors can stay in refined Moorish-style rooms at the Rabat Marriott Hotel near The National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco, or the new Fairmont La Marina Rabat Salé.