The Mohammed VI Tower is a 250-metre, 55-storey skyscraper designed by Rafael de la Hoz and Hakim Benjelloun, positioned along the Bouregreg river between Rabat and Salé. Its tapered silhouette references a rocket on a launch pad, a concept introduced early in the project’s development. The building was completed in 2025 and inaugurated in April 2026, becoming the tallest structure in Morocco and one of the tallest in Africa.
The tower integrates multiple programs across its vertical layout, including a luxury hotel, offices, high-end residences, and retail spaces. Its façade incorporates photovoltaic panels to reduce solar gain and improve energy performance, while structural systems are engineered to withstand seismic activity and strong winds. The project forms part of the Bouregreg Valley development, contributing to broader urban expansion and positioning the Rabat-Salé region as a growing economic and cultural hub.
Image Credit: Rafael de la Hoz, Hakim Benjelloun
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Rocket-inspired Architectural Design
- The adoption of tapered, launch-vehicle-inspired silhouettes is enabling signature skylines that blend symbolic identity with aerodynamic performance and brand-driven placemaking.
- Vertical Mixed-use Integration
- Emerging high-rise projects are combining hospitality, residential, office, and retail programs within single cores to maximize land value and create 24/7 urban ecosystems.
- Building-integrated Photovoltaics
- Integration of PV into façades and shading systems is transforming envelope materials into energy-generating surfaces that reduce operational loads and visual heat gain.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Commercial Real Estate
- Rising demand for iconic, mixed-use towers is reshaping valuation models and tenant expectations toward experiential, amenity-rich vertical campuses.
- Renewable Energy Systems
- Façade-integrated solar technologies are creating new product markets for architects and developers focused on decarbonizing urban building portfolios.
- Seismic-resilient Engineering
- Advanced structural solutions tailored for high-rise wind and earthquake loading are driving innovation in materials, damping systems, and modular construction techniques.
