Rabat honors exceptional Moroccan women at annual tribute ceremony

Saturday 04 April 2026 - 09:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Rabat honors exceptional Moroccan women at annual tribute ceremony

The Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat will host the annual "Night of Loyalty to Exceptional Moroccan Women" on April 21, 2026, bringing together cultural, political, and civic figures to recognize women who have distinguished themselves across a range of fields. The event is organized by a coalition of media actors and backed by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, framing individual achievement within Morocco's broader push for gender equality aligned with United Nations sustainable development goals.

Among the leading honorees is Khadija Bendam, an engineer who chairs the International Council of Nuclear Societies in Vienna and leads key projects at the National Center for Energy, Sciences and Nuclear Techniques (CNESTEN) in Rabat. Her recognition comes as Morocco accelerates investment in civil nuclear energy as part of its goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. CNESTEN announced advances in clean energy research in March 2026, with Bendam playing a central role.

The judiciary is also prominently represented. Dr. Saadia Belmir, an adviser at the Court of Cassation, and Dr. Aicha Naciri, attorney general at the Commercial Tribunal of Casablanca, will receive honors for their contributions to judicial reform, particularly in anti-corruption efforts and the advancement of women's commercial rights. Women now account for 45 percent of magistrates in Morocco, according to 2025 figures from the Ministry of Justice.

The event also highlights leadership in finance and media. Houda Chfil, interim director general of the Crédit Immobilier et Hôtelier, oversaw the launch of a housing finance program for young families in February 2026. Nadia Ibram, a senior journalist at the Maghreb Arab Press Agency, will be recognized for her reporting on social issues. Their profiles reflect a broader feminization of Moroccan professional elites, a shift accelerated by 2023 royal reforms requiring greater gender parity on public company boards.

The ceremony, chaired by Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, will also feature performances by musicians Salma Rachid and Saad Lamjarred, both of whom drew large audiences at the 2025 Mawazine Festival. The event begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are available for presale through the National Theatre's website.

A World Bank report published in January 2026 ranked Morocco among the Maghreb's leaders in female entrepreneurship, recording a 20 percent rise in women-led startups between 2024 and 2025. Organizers, including the National Union of Moroccan Women and press associations, have also announced special awards for young innovators in technology and the arts, reinforcing the ceremony's focus on inspiring the next generation of Moroccan women.