Rabat’s changing skyline and new cultural venues are the focus of a French television documentary exploring how the Moroccan capital is developing as a tourism destination. The 47-minute programme airs on M6 on Friday, 9 October, at 13:40 CET as part of its Un jour, un doc series. Directed by Rabah Aït-Hamadouche, it takes viewers inside the Mohammed VI Tower and the Royal Theatre of Rabat.
Produced by Yannis Chebbi and Michael Kazan for Electron Libre Productions, part of Mediawan, the documentary looks at major construction projects, luxury hotels and cultural attractions in Rabat and neighbouring Salé.
The film features the Waldorf Astoria Rabat Salé, which opened in May 2026 inside the Mohammed VI Tower. Standing 250 metres tall across 55 storeys, the tower is the tallest building in Morocco and the second tallest in Africa.
The hotel occupies floors 29 to 46 and has 55 rooms and suites, a two-storey Valmont spa and restaurants led by chefs Alain Ducasse and Lahcen Hafid. Ducasse’s Aldabaran restaurant is on the 33rd floor. The interiors were designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon.
Another focus is the Royal Theatre of Rabat, designed by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, who died in 2016.
The 27,000-square-metre venue overlooks the Bouregreg River and cost about 2 billion dirhams ($200m) to build. It includes an indoor auditorium with 1,821 seats and an outdoor amphitheatre with space for 7,000 people.
The theatre officially opened on 22 April 2026, following years of delays after the main structure was completed in 2021. The inauguration was attended by Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem and Lalla Hasnaa, alongside French First Lady Brigitte Macron.
Since opening, the venue has hosted international performers, including Lebanese singer Elissa and Egyptian-American comedian Bassem Youssef.
The developments are part of a wider urban regeneration programme aimed at establishing Rabat as a cultural and luxury tourism destination. The Rabat, City of Light initiative includes investment in transport, public spaces and infrastructure linking Rabat with Salé.
The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) said international television coverage could help attract visitors and raise awareness of the country’s destinations.
“The ONMT fully appreciates the reach of these productions, which present Morocco through its regions, its landmarks, and the people who bring them to life,” the office said.
“Their ability to connect with a broad audience directly contributes to strengthening the visibility of Moroccan destinations, fostering interest, and supporting their international appeal.”
The broadcast comes as Un jour, un doc continues to attract viewers in France. In September 2026, the programme recorded its highest audience share outside the summer period, reaching 8% of all viewers and 12% of those aged 25 to 49.
France is the largest source of foreign tourists visiting Morocco. The country is targeting 17.5 million international visitors in 2026, as it prepares for major sporting events, including the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 Fifa World Cup.
The documentary highlights efforts to combine Rabat’s historic heritage with new architecture, cultural venues and high-end tourism.
