Dubai on the Atlantic: Morocco building Africa's tallest tower
Dubai on the Atlantic: Morocco building Africa's tallest tower
Once completed, the tower being built in the Bouregreg Valley near the kingdom's capital Rabat will displace Johannesburg's Carlton Centre as the tallest structure in the African continent.
2 min read
The project is part of the Rabat City of Light development plan [AFP]
Morocco has officially launched the construction of a futuristic 45-storey tower set to become the highest building in Africa upon completion.
King Mohammed VI was personally present at the launching ceremony on Wednesday.
The state-of-the-art, 250-metre-high tower will be built in the Bouregreg Valley near the capital Rabat.
A third of the tower's surface will be covered by solar panels, which will generate most of its energy needs.
Morocco is keen to invest in renewable energy.
Last month, the kingdom launched the first phase of what will be the world's largest concentrated solar power plant near the city of Ouarzazate.
The tower is part of a flagship project to develop the valley, comprising theatres, art galleries, libraries, museums, hotels, malls, as well as business centres and homes.
The development is a key component of the Rabat City of Light project launched by the king in May 2014
The $300 million building is being built by the BMCE Bank Group on a plot of 3 hectares.
According to Morocco World News, it will house a 350-seat auditorium, services and shops on the ground floor; offices on the first 12 levels; residential apartments from the 13th to the 26th floors (55 apartments); and a luxury hotel on the upper floors.
The top four floors will be reserved for VIP apartments.
King Mohammed VI was personally present at the launching ceremony on Wednesday.
The state-of-the-art, 250-metre-high tower will be built in the Bouregreg Valley near the capital Rabat.
A third of the tower's surface will be covered by solar panels, which will generate most of its energy needs.
Morocco is keen to invest in renewable energy.
Last month, the kingdom launched the first phase of what will be the world's largest concentrated solar power plant near the city of Ouarzazate.
The tower is part of a flagship project to develop the valley, comprising theatres, art galleries, libraries, museums, hotels, malls, as well as business centres and homes.
The development is a key component of the Rabat City of Light project launched by the king in May 2014
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Currently, the tallest building in Africa is Johannesburg's Carlton Centre, which stands 223 metres tall. |  |
The $300 million building is being built by the BMCE Bank Group on a plot of 3 hectares.
According to Morocco World News, it will house a 350-seat auditorium, services and shops on the ground floor; offices on the first 12 levels; residential apartments from the 13th to the 26th floors (55 apartments); and a luxury hotel on the upper floors.
The top four floors will be reserved for VIP apartments.
Currently, the tallest building in Africa is Johannesburg's Carlton Centre, which stands 223 metres tall.
However, Morocco's tower will still be dwarfed by the 828-metre-high, 163-storey Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the world's tallest building.
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