Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Inaugurates Morocco’s Tallest Tower in Rabat
Marrakech – On the orders of King Mohammed VI, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan on Monday inaugurated the Mohammed VI Tower on the right bank of the Bouregreg River in Sale. The 250-meter, 55-story structure is now Morocco’s tallest building.
Belgian construction firm BESIX announced the official delivery of the tower on March 30. The company built it in a joint venture with Moroccan contractor TGCC under a Design & Build contract awarded in 2018 by O Tower, a subsidiary of O Capital Group, chaired by Othman Benjelloun.
The contract covered design, engineering, procurement, construction, facades, electromechanical systems, finishes, and furniture.
The tower spans 102,800 square meters and rises from a four-level podium. It houses a Waldorf Astoria luxury hotel, office spaces, high-end residential apartments, a conference hall, retail shops, restaurants, and a panoramic observation deck at the top. Thirty-six elevators serve the building – 21 in the tower and 15 in the podium.
Architects Rafael de la Hoz and Hakim Benjelloun designed the structure. Its silhouette, described as rocket-like, is visible from 50 kilometers away and now defines Rabat’s skyline.
During the inauguration, the Crown Prince toured several sections of the tower. He visited the main lobby, where he received presentations on the structure and the Moroccan artisanal materials used in its construction.
He also visited a model apartment, the Waldorf Astoria hotel, and the heritage observatory at the summit. The observatory offers panoramic views of Rabat and Sale, where the ramparts, kasbahs, and ancient gates of both cities are visible.
The tower’s engineering was shaped by the challenges of its location. It rests on 60-meter-deep foundations made of 104 concrete barrettes, designed to withstand seismic activity and flooding from the Bouregreg River. BESIX’s engineering teams developed the structural solutions for the complex geotechnical environment.
The building uses a hybrid tube-in-tube system. A high-strength inner concrete core is paired with an outer structural steel frame for lateral load distribution. This setup provides stability against wind and seismic forces while allowing column-free floor layouts.
A 160-ton tuned mass damper installed at the top counters wind-induced movement and seismic vibrations, improving comfort for upper-floor residents.
On the environmental front, the tower integrates several advanced systems. The north-facing facade features a high-performance unitized glazed curtain wall with decorative metal fins. The south elevation combines an opaque curtain wall with metal panels, louvers, and 1,800 square meters of photovoltaic panels that generate renewable energy for an internal microgrid.
An additional 2,200 square meters of photovoltaic panels sit on the podium roof. The tower also includes energy recovery systems and rainwater harvesting. These features are aimed at securing LEED Gold and HQE certifications.
Interior spaces received particular attention. Belgian brand FLAMANT, known for its refined design, furnished the podium’s main areas, including the lobby, ballroom, restaurants, and boardroom.
The project is part of the broader Bouregreg Valley development plan, itself a component of the “Rabat Ville Lumière” program initiated under the King’s direction.
At his arrival, the Crown Prince reviewed a section of the Royal Guard before being greeted by regional and local officials, including Rabat-Sale-Kenitra Wali Mohamed Yacoubi, Sale Governor Omar Touimi, and Sale Mayor Omar Sentissi.
He was also greeted by Benjelloun, O Capital Group administrator Dounia Benjelloun, Bouregreg Valley Agency’s Zakaria El Kaidi, and Aradi Bouregreg’s Jamal Benissa.
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