They house royalty, taught generations about Islam, influenced Muslim architecture worldwide, survived pandemics and wars, and hide incredible stories behind their glorious facades.
Morocco boasts some of the world’s most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture. From a giant necropolis and a stunning mausoleum to an ancient Islamic college, here are five of Morocco’s most extraordinary structures.
Bahia Palace, Marrakech
As I strain my neck to stare up at the ceiling, I almost feel dizzy. Not due to my posture, but rather because of the mesmerising patterns painted on the wooden surface above me. This dense mixture of geometric and floral motifs is called zouak, a type of hand-painted design seen in mosques, mansions and palaces across Morocco. It is used liberally on the ceilings, doors and window frames in Bahia Palace.
An army of artisans from across Morocco needed 14 years to create this grand complex. Blending Andalusian and Moroccan architectural elements, Bahia Palace is not just beautiful, but also eclectic in appearance. From candy-striped surfaces to intricate stonework, giant marble courtyards and the rainbow palettes of stained-glass windows, every corner has interesting elements.
Just as remarkable as these aesthetics is the story of the man Bahia was built for in the early 1800s. A slave who worked his way up into the royal staff, became head of house, then a royal adviser and, finally, a kingmaker, Si Moussa is an important figure in Moroccan history.
Bou Inania Madrasa, Fez
It is not simple to stand out in the medina of Fez, a labyrinth of more than 9,000 narrow streets and alleys lined with endless examples of graceful Moroccan architecture. Which is why towering above this urban maze is the best way to get noticed. That is just what Bou Inania Madrasa does, thanks to its lofty minaret, which is covered in gleaming turquoise mosaics made from traditional Moroccan zellige tiles.
Down below the tower, this ancient Islamic college is equally astonishing. Built by the Marinid dynasty, in the 1350s, it was one of the city’s main centres for teaching young men about the Quran, as well as Arabic literature, mathematics and Islamic law.
Students would have done well to concentrate on these subjects given the distracting opulence of their surroundings. Bou Inania is built around a central, marble-floored courtyard. The walls of this space are embellished by intricately carved cedar lattices, gorgeous stonework and complex stucco designs. All of this combines to create a visual spectacle that is overwhelming in the finest possible way. This is a not a building easily forgotten.
Chellah, Rabat
Just beyond the hubbub of downtown Rabat, a long stone wall runs down a gently sloping hillside. While parts of it are now crumbled, this fortification once protected not a single building, but rather an extraordinary Islamic necropolis. Collectively, the ancient remains of Chellah – a mosque, royal mausoleums, towering gateways and an Islamic academy – form one of Morocco’s most inspiring architectural complexes.
This is what’s left of a necropolis, a burial complex for high-ranking members of the Marinid dynasty, which ruled swathes of Morocco between the 1200s and 1400s. But archaeologists have also found signs that 2,000 years ago, Chellah was a city populated first by the Phoenicians and then the Romans.
Tourists can wander every part of this historic site, weaving past weathered Roman columns, ancient Phoenician homes, a towering Islamic minaret and the ruins of an Islamic college. That last site is alongside the tomb of the most famous Marinid sultan, Abu al-Hasan, who led an expansion of that dynasty’s domain. All of this is accessed by passing through a commanding stone and wood gateway that’s long been the entrance point to Chellah.
Marrakech Museum, Marrakech
The main museum of the city of Marrakech displays some of Morocco’s most important artefacts, including artworks that are up to 1,000 years old. Yet these priceless items, at times, are upstaged by the lavish design of this museum, which is housed in the former Mnebhi Palace.
This ostentatious mansion, built in the early 1900s, is connected by a sequence of beautiful courtyards. One is an open-air space with turquoise floor tiles, whitewashed walls and multicoloured clay torches. The main courtyard, meanwhile, is dominated by an enormous, oval-shaped wooden lamp that looms like an ornate spaceship slowly descending to Earth.
Spoking off from this courtyard are many intimate spaces – former bedrooms and dining rooms – which showcase both historic and contemporary Moroccan art. There’s also an impressive weaponry room, where ancient swords and daggers hang from forest-green walls, above which are ceilings decorated with layer upon layer of intricate, hand-carved wooden patterns.
Mausoleum of Sultan Mohammed V, Rabat
This is one of the most photogenic structures I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t until I got back to my hotel, after visiting Rabat’s phenomenal Mausoleum of Sultan Mohammed V, that I realised I’d taken more than 100 photos of the building. It is a suitably stately home for the tomb of the father and grandfather of the current King of Morocco, Mohammed VI. Unlike the other structures on this list, this mausoleum is not ancient, having been built just 50 years ago.
The use of repetitive patterns in and around the mausoleum is truly hypnotic. These geometric designs adorn the stone floors that surround the structure, as well as the cream facade of the mausoleum, its deep-green roof, and its interior walls, arches, doors and ceiling.
Colossal chandeliers illuminate the mausoleum within, each exit of which is protected by a Moroccan Royal Guard.
With their white suits, blue caps and long red capes, these spiffy soldiers add to the regal feel of the site. The mausoleum sits opposite another important piece of Islamic architecture, the 44-metre-tall Hassan Tower, built in the late 12th century as the minaret of what had been planned to be the world’s second largest mosque.
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
How to donate
Text the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
6025 - Dh 20
2252 - Dh 50
2208 - Dh 100
6020 - Dh 200
*numbers work for both Etisalat and du
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ENGLAND TEAM
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Pakistan - Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Rumman Raees.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Remaining Fixtures
Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final
