Fez – The Barid Al-Maghrib has issued a commemorative postage stamp marking the designation of Rabat as the World Book Capital 2026, in partnership with Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.
The special stamp was unveiled on Monday during a ceremony held at the Barid Al-Maghrib Museum in the Moroccan capital.
The event brought together Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Barid Al-Maghrib Director General Amin Benjelloun Touimi, UNESCO Maghreb Regional Office Director Charaf Ahmimed, along with several public figures and officials.
The philatelic release forms part of Morocco’s national program celebrating Rabat’s international distinction.
The design combines symbolic elements linked to the city, including iconic landmarks, books and a globe, reflecting Rabat’s cultural identity and its openness to the world.
Speaking during the ceremony, Bensaid said the celebration strengthens Morocco’s position as a regional and international center of cultural and civilizational influence.
He added that Rabat’s designation reflects a Royal Vision that places culture, knowledge and human development at the heart of national progress.
The minister also described the commemorative stamp as carrying strong symbolic and historical value, noting that postage stamps serve as ambassadors across borders and visual documents that reflect national identity.
For his part, Benjelloun Touimi said the distinction goes beyond international recognition of Rabat’s heritage and confirms the city’s role as a crossroads for knowledge, literary creativity and intercultural dialogue.
He added that the initiative also highlights Rabat’s growing influence at both regional and international levels.
He further stressed the important role postage stamps play in preserving Morocco’s history and civilization while documenting major national events.
Meanwhile, Ahmimed underlined the universal dimension of the initiative, saying the stamp will travel across borders and through time as a witness to a historic moment carrying the message of a city that chose to shine through the power of words.
The UNESCO official also reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Morocco’s educational and literary initiatives linked to Rabat’s year as World Book Capital 2026.
