Morocco to begin construction of Africa's tallest building

The Bank of Africa skyscraper in Rabat, Morocco, will be the tallest building on the African continent, at 250-metres, when it opens in 2022.

The mixed-use, 55-floor high-rise, which will be designed by Belgium-based architectural studio Besix, will include a luxury hotel, office space, and apartments.

The project, which is being hailed as an "emblematic" addition to Rabat – considered by some to be Morocco’s cultural capital – is part of the €394m (US$ 456.4m, £345.5m) Bouregreg Valley Development scheme. It will be built by construction firm TGCC.

Inter-governmental organisation, Union for the Mediterranean, says the Bouregreg Valley Development scheme was launched to foster sustainable urban development in the metropolitan area of Rabat-Salé-Témara.

Commenting on the Bank of Africa building, Othman Benjelloun, the founder of FinanceCom International – which is partially funding the project – said it would be a "source of pride, both for the Kingdom of Morocco and for the African continent as a whole".

Construction is scheduled to begin on 1 November.