Five Moroccan creators have been shortlisted for the 2026 Arab World Institute (IMA) Design Awards, which recognize excellence in contemporary design across the Arab world.
Architect Salima Naji is a finalist for the Grand Prize with the Heritage Interpretation Center of Tiznit, an earthen architecture project built within the city’s historic ramparts. The project reflects her long-standing commitment to preserving and promoting Morocco’s architectural heritage.
Moroccan finalists are represented across four of the competition’s main categories, highlighting the diversity and vitality of the kingdom’s creative scene at the intersection of design, architecture, craftsmanship, and heritage preservation.
In the Emerging Talent category, Othmane Bengebara was shortlisted for “Irtah!”, a project that reimagines traditional Moroccan seating through a contemporary approach combining craftsmanship, textile design, and new technologies.
For the Contemporary Craftsmanship Prize, Imane Mellah was selected for “Bab,” a textile work inspired by the doors of Morocco’s medinas and created using artisanal techniques that evoke Amazigh weaving traditions.
Casablanca-based 99+ X Architects, founded by architects Alaa Halifi and El Yazid Boudraa, is among the finalists for the Arab Bank Switzerland Impact Prize with “What Remains: Atlas of a Disappearing Casablanca.” The project explores transforming debris from urban demolitions into reusable resources while preserving Casablanca’s architectural memory through material reuse.
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Created by the Arab World Institute, the Design Awards recognize innovative achievements in design, architecture, and craftsmanship while celebrating the cultural identities and traditional expertise of the Arab world.
The winners will be announced during a ceremony at the Arab World Institute on September 9 as part of Paris Design Week. The shortlisted projects will also be exhibited at the institute from September 3 to 20.
According to the organizers, the presence of five Moroccan creators among this year’s finalists reflects the growing international recognition of Moroccan design and its ability to combine innovation, sustainability, and cultural heritage.
