Rabat in 2024: “The City of a Thousand Charms, Between Cultural Novelties and Modern Luxury”

Conde Nast Traveler hails the Moroccan capital for its dynamic music festivals, prestigious architecture and luxury hotels, thus raising it among the jewels of travel and one of the best destinations in Africa.

The Moroccan capital of Rabat may be one of the country’s four imperial cities, but it’s long been bypassed by travellers drawn to the timeworn beauty of places like Marrakech, Fez, and Tangier. That may change this year, as the city is in the midst of a cultural and artistic reinvention. One of the most talked about attractions: the forthcoming Mohammed VI Tower, designed to be LEED Gold and HQE-certified and projected to be the tallest and only spire of its kind in Africa. But perhaps even more exciting is the new Grand Theatre of Rabat opening nearby.

One of legendary architect Zaha Hadid’s unfinished masterpieces, it will incorporate an 1,800-seat theatre, an experimental performance space, and a 7,000-person amphitheater, along with green spaces and a restaurant. It is set to be the largest venue of its kind in both Africa and the Arab world and will host symphony, ballet, opera, and philharmonic performances (all of the above are anticipated before 2023 comes to a close). Another hotly anticipated cultural foray is the 2024 return of the Mawazine festival, coming back this summer after a COVID-19-induced hiatus – there’s no word on a lineup yet, but in the past Africa’s largest festival has drawn A-listers like Rihanna and Mariah Carey.

A flurry of high-profile hotel openings will make for a soft landing in the city while you’re there: The newly opened Fairmont La Marina Rabat Salé and Conrad Rabat Arzana both herald a new era of modern luxury in the historic city; now, the buzz is centered around the hotly anticipated Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr, opening in late 2023, as well as a the planned Ritz-Carlton Rabat Dar Es Salam.