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Morocco opens $700M skyscraper as it boosts global ambitions
The $700 million tower is expected to create 450 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect ones, developers said.
Morocco's $700 million, 55-story Mohammed Tower opened this week in Salé, featuring a luxury Waldorf Astoria hotel, offices, and upscale apartments named for King Mohammed VI.
Morocco relies heavily on tourism economically and seeks to attract more visitors, positioning itself as a leading regional player ahead of co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Conceived by billionaire Othmane Benjelloun, the project took eight years with more than 2,500 workers from over a dozen countries. Leila Haddaoui, director of development company O Tower, said it will generate 450 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect ones.
The structure stands near the Grand Theatre of Rabat, designed by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, offering views of the Atlantic Ocean. Founders view the tower as a symbol of Morocco's growing soft power in Africa and the Middle East.
Critics argue development is concentrated along Morocco's Atlantic corridor while other areas remain underdeveloped, an issue highlighted by Gen Z-led protests last year over high unemployment and struggling public services.