Rabat – The recognition of Rabat as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world 2022 confirms the special status of this African, Arab, Islamic and international city, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid said on Thursday.

During the celebration, Bensaid said the announcement “carries more than one significance … and confirms the  status of Rabat, in Africa, the Arab and Islamic worlds,  and internationally.”

The official celebrations kicked off on Thursday in Mohammed V theater.

The minister added that Rabat also has a global human heritage, represented in the  various traditional and modern sites in the city, such as architecture. 

Rabat is also undergoing  major development projects as part of the ‘Rabat, City of Lights and Morocco’s Cultural Capital’ initiative, which was launched in 2015.

Read also: Rabat as Islamic World’s Cultural Capital: Official Celebrations Begin

Bensaid expressed his pride during Thursday’s celebrations, particularly in “the special care that His Majesty has been giving to the city of Rabat as Morocco’s capital in linking the glorious past with the bright present and the promising future.”

The Mayor of Rabat Asma Aghlalo said in another speech that selecting Rabat as the Islamic world’s capital of culture for 2022 will contribute to the revival of cultural activities in the city, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aghlalo also highlighted that Rabat is not only the capital of Morocco, but also a multifaceted city of civilization, with historical, archaeological, and architectural monuments dating back more than eight centuries, qualifying it to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

Director General of (ISESCO), Salim Bin Mohammed handed Aghlalo a flag to mark the celebration.

The opening ceremony of the cultural event included  poetry and music performances by the great group of the Tetouan instrumental choir, led by Al-Amin Al-Akrami.

ISESCO’s list of capitals of culture in the Islamic world for 2022 include Rabat, Cairo, Bandung (Indonesia) and Yaounde (Cameroon).