DR ‹ › Veteran Moroccan artist Abdelhadi Belkhayat passed away on the evening of Friday, January 30, at the age of 86, following a long illness. He died at the Military Hospital in Rabat, according to informed sources. Belkhayat is regarded as one of the pillars of authentic Moroccan music, with a rich artistic career spanning several decades. In 2012, he chose to retire from singing and devote himself to religious chanting. The late artist was urgently transferred on Monday, January 5, 2026, to the Military Hospital in Dakhla, following royal instructions, after suffering a sudden health setback that required admission to the intensive care unit. As his condition worsened after arriving in Dakhla from Mauritania, where he had been taking part in an event, Belkhayat was later transported aboard a special medical aircraft to Casablanca to continue treatment under the supervision of a specialized medical team. His funeral will take place on Saturday in Casablanca, where the funeral prayer will be held at Al Noor Mosque, before he is laid to rest.
