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Five Moroccan creators among finalists for Arab World Institute's 2026 Design Prize
via Le Matin2 min read
Five Moroccan creators have been named finalists for the Arab World Institute's 2026 Design Prize, with their projects spanning four main categories. This highlights the diversity and dynamism of Morocco's creative scene, which blends design, architecture, craftsmanship, and heritage preservation. In the Emerging Talent category, Othmane Bengebara is recognized for "Irtah!", a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Moroccan seating that combines craftsmanship, textile creation, and new technologies. For the Contemporary Craftsmanship Prize, Imane Mellah is a finalist with "Bab," a textile artwork inspired by Moroccan medina gates, created using artisanal techniques reminiscent of Amazigh weaving. The Casablanca-based firm 99+ X Architects, founded by architects Alaa Halifi and El Yazid Boudraa, is a finalist for the Impact Prize – Arab Bank Switzerland with "What Remains: Atlas of a Disappearing Casablanca." This project focuses on transforming rubble from urban demolitions into resources that preserve Casablanca's architectural memory and promote material reuse. In the Grand Prize category, architect Salima Naji is a finalist for the Tiznit Heritage Interpretation Center, a raw earth project built within the city's historic ramparts, showcasing her long-standing commitment to safeguarding Moroccan architectural heritage. The Design Prize, established by the Arab World Institute, honors innovative achievements in design, architecture, and craftsmanship while promoting t
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A recent World Bank report on Morocco's economic situation highlights the incomplete digital transformation of Moroccan businesses as a structural impediment to national productivity. The analysis, based on a 2024 survey of 1,256 manufacturing and tertiary sector companies, reveals that while basic digital tools are widely adopted, advanced technologies like enterprise resource planning systems, customer relationship management software, Big Data analytics, AI-driven applications, and automated quality control systems are integrated intensively by fewer than one in five businesses. This "incomplete digitization" leads to substantial economic costs. Internationally, Morocco's technological sophistication is intermediate, comparable to the median of 18 surveyed countries, but lags behind high-growth peers like India and Vietnam. The gap with technological leaders such as South Korea is more pronounced even among Morocco's most advanced companies. Only 31% of Moroccan establishments use specialized software, and a mere 8% have an Enterprise Resource Planning ERP system. Even when adopted, these tools are often underutilized, with less than half of businesses using them for administration or supply chain management, and even fewer for production planning or quality control. The World Bank identifies several obstacles to faster digitization, including cost, cited by most executives as the primary barrier, especially for medium-sized enterprises. Access to financing is also a chall
Morocco's Atlas Lionesses will play Kenya on Sunday, July 26, at 9:00 PM at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. This match marks the opening of Group A in the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Coached by Jorge Vilda, the Moroccan team aims for a strong start at home in front of their fans as they begin their pursuit of the continental title. The game will be broadcast on Arryadia TNT, Al Aoula TNT, and beIN Sports 6.
Must ReadMarvel has announced a third installment of "Black Panther" at Comic-Con, with British actor David Jonsson cast in the lead role. The film is scheduled for release on December 15, 2028. Jonsson, known for his performances in the HBO series "Industry" and the 2025 film "Marche ou crève," will portray T'Challa's son, following the original Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020. Jonsson made an appearance before fans at Comic-Con, expressing his honor to join the "extraordinary family" but declining to reveal too many details about the film. Oscar-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who directed the first two "Black Panther" movies, will return to direct the third. Coogler stated that "Black Panther III" will follow T'Challa's son as he reaches adulthood and follows in his father's heroic footsteps. The first "Black Panther" film, released in 2018, grossed $1.3 billion and featured Chadwick Boseman alongside a cast including Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright.