Rabat's literary scene will take centre stage next year as the Moroccan capital was recently designated by Unesco as the World Book Capital for 2026.
The honour is a tribute to the city’s role as a cradle of Morocco’s colourful literary culture − spanning grand institutions and organisations such as the National Archives and National Library, to popular bookstores run by families and even one particularly dedicated bibliophile.
More than simply exhibiting and selling books, these places – big and small – tell the story of a city where culture remains at its heart. Here are eight places to visit.
1. The National Library of Morocco
Located amidst the tree-lined boulevards and wide avenues of Rabat's Agdal district – long considered the city's academic quarter and home to major universities and institutions – the National Library of Morocco (Bibliotheque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc) boasts a collection reportedly exceeding 700,000 works that include rare manuscripts, historical local newspapers and maps.
Open to the public, many of these items are accessible for reading in the library's numerous reading rooms. Additionally, a 300-seat auditorium is available for hosting cultural events, including book readings, literary exhibitions and lectures.
2. National Archives of Morocco
Found on Avenue Ibn Battouta, the central road running through the Agdal district, the institution (also known as Archives du Maroc) was established in 2007 and opened to the public six years later. It is home to a treasure trove of documents from Morocco's French Protectorate period (during the early to mid 20th century), as well as a growing collection of works by Morocco's most influential authors, such as playwright Abdessamad Kenfaoui and Amazigh poet Brahim Akhiate.
3. Librairie Kalila Wa Dimna
The bookstore's rustic appearance belies its history and significance to the city. Opened in 1948 and located on Avenue Mohammed V, one of Rabat's oldest literary haunts continues to hold a variety of novels and children's books, as well as educational texts and business magazines.
Librairie Kalila wa Dimna is also a meeting spot for culture lovers, with books available in Arabic, French, English and Spanish. It is also used to host book launches and author discussions.
4. Librairie Basta
The family-run bookstore has been open since 1961 and has been the point of call for those seeking the latest novels or textbooks for the new school year. With floor-to-ceiling shelves and a rather Byzantine categorisation, it remains a beloved fixture of the city's cultural landscape.
5. The English Bookshop
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, The English Bookshop – located on the corner of Rabat-Ville Train Station – is reportedly described as Rabat's only bookstore solely dedicated to English readers, with selections ranging from novels and non-fiction works to academic books. As a result, it has become a gathering spot for Anglophiles and tourists, and if you take your time perusing the shelves, you may walk away with some rare out-of-print novels.
6. Bouquiniste El Azizi
A one-man cultural landmark, Mohamed Aziz is hailed as Rabat's oldest bookseller, having set up his small store amid the city's bustling souq in the Medina in 1967. Reportedly in his seventies, you can still find Aziz ensconced within his near 5,000-book collection – from vintage paperback novels to French classics – all amassed in piles whose categorisation is charmingly only known to him.
7. Place Bab El Had
Also known by locals as Joutia, meaning "retro marketplace", and located within Rabat's Medina, this open area is a haven for book lovers. It offers vintage novels and classic texts in various languages (I spotted some classic spy fiction gems by Jack Higgins and AJ Quinnell), as well as coffee table books and academic titles. Come with cash and be prepared to haggle.
8. Institut Francais de Rabat
A brisk walk from the Rabat Ville train station, the institute is one of the city's most active cultural hubs, featuring a library with more than 30,000 titles in French, Arabic and other languages, along with dedicated spaces for book signings and launches by Moroccan and French authors.
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Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
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• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
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Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
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If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
'C'mon C'mon'
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