Morocco Signs Agreement to Rehabilitate Essaouira's Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Museum
A partnership agreement to develop, equip, and manage the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Museum in Essaouira was signed on 13 April 2026 at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat. The agreement brings together the National Museums Foundation, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Essaouira Mogador Association, and the Essaouira Municipal Council. Signatories included Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mehdi Bensaid, Essaouira Municipal Council President Tarik Ottmani, Essaouira Mogador Association President André Azoulay, and National Museums Foundation President Mehdi Qotbi. The 19th-century museum is set to undergo comprehensive rehabilitation, with upgrades aimed at transforming it into a space dedicated to learning, cultural discovery, and heritage appreciation for both local and international visitors.
Ottmani noted that Essaouira's history stretches back to the Phoenician era, underscoring the depth of heritage the museum is intended to reflect and preserve. The initiative forms part of Morocco's broader national cultural development strategy and contributes to the valorisation of both tangible and intangible heritage. Essaouira - which was recently recognised by the Creative Tourism Network as the Best Creative Living Heritage Destination - continues to strengthen its cultural infrastructure ahead of Morocco's growing tourism ambitions, including its co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The agreement is expected to position the museum as a key attraction within the city's cultural ecosystem once rehabilitation is complete.
Source: Morocco World News
