Morocco : The Country

Information | Geography | Weather

Some facts & figures

Area: 710,850 sq km (274,461 sq miles)

Population: 26,069,000 (1993 estimate)

Population density: 36,7 per sq km

Capital: Rabat - population : 1,397,000 (1993 estimate)

Geography: Morocco is located on the westernmost tip of north Africa, bordering Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the west. Running through the middle of the country is the Atlas mountains range, which leads to the fertile plains and sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast. The Middle Atlas range sweeps up from the south, rising to over 3000 m (9850 ft), covered with woodlands of pine, oak and cedar, open pastureland and small lakes. The Rif Mountains run along the north coast. The ports of Ceuta and Melilla on the north coast are administered by Spain.

Language: The official language is Arabic, Berber and French are widely spoken throughout the country, while Spanish is more predominant in the northern regions. English is also understood particularly in the north and around Agadir.

Religion: Predominantly Muslim with Jewish and Christian minorities. Morocco's population and culture stems from a cross section of origins including Berbers, Arabs, Moors and Jews.

Time: GMT

Climate: The coast as a warm, Mediterranean climate tempered on the eastern coast by southwest trade winds. Inland areas have a hotter, drier, continental climate. In the South of the country, the weather is very hot and dry throughout most of the year, with the nights coolest in the months of December and January. Rain falls from November to March in coastal areas. Mostly dry with high temperatures in summer. Cooler climate in the mountains. Marrakech and Agadir enjoy an average temperature of 21 C the winter.

Currency: Moroccan Dirham (DH) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denomination of DH 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denomination of DHS 5 and 1 and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes. Credit cards: Major credit cards are accepted (Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Eurocard, Amex, Diners Club...).

Travel: How can I travel to and in Morocco ?

AIR: Royal Air Maroc (RAM), the national company provides many international and domestic flights between cities in Morocco, using Boeing , ATR. and Airbus. A new private company, Regional Airlines (RAL) is also operating in Morocco, Spain, Portugal and Balearic Island with a Beechcraft fleet (19 seats per plane). But for clients who wish to hire a private plane, there are private companies with small planes and experienced pilots. Unfortunately, there is no helicopter rental services for the moment. Airlines serving Morocco include : Air France, British Airways, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Sabena, Iberia, KLM, Swissair, Tunis Air, Saudi Airlines, Aeroflot, Kuwait Airways and Gulf Air..

SEA: Principal ports are Tangier, Casablanca and Ceuta. Lines serving these ports are Comarit, Comanav, Trasmediterranea, Isnasa, Limadet. Car and passenger ferry links Tangier and Ceuta in the north of Morocco to Algeciras, Tariffa and Gibraltar in the South of Spain.

RAIL: The Moroccan rail system is all standard gauge and, though limited, provides regular and cheap services with first-class available. The network runs from Oujda in the northeast to Casablanca on the west coast, Tangier on the north coast and Marrakech in the interior.

The main routes include : -Marrakech -Casablanca -Rabat -Meknes -Fes -Oujda, Marrakech- Casablanca -Rabat, Marrakech-Casablanca-Meknes-Fes and Casablanca-Rabat-Tangier. Fares are among the cheapest in the world.

LAND : Morocco has recently improved its road network by constructing some motorways. All the main cities will be connected by 2002 by motorway. Otherwise good national roads allow you to go almost everywhere and comfortably in Morocco, except in the deep south where you may need a 4X4 vehicle.

Food and Drinks In Morocco

Morocco' s traditional haute cuisine dishes are excellent and good value for money. They are often exceedingly elaborate. Typical specialties include : harira, a rich soup, bastella, a pastry stuffed with pigeon and almonds, couscous, a complete dish with semola, meat and vegetables, a range variety of Tagine, meat, fish or poultry combined with vegetables and other flavors, stewed in a terracotta on a charcoal fire, mechoui is a whole piece of lamb roasted, pastries are delicious : kab el ghzal, briouats, beghrir, with almonds and honey. Restaurants - traditional, French or other European specialties, offer a good quality at good rates. The national drink is mint tea. Coffee is prepared very strong.

Shopping

The cooperative shops of Moroccan craftsmen, Coopartim, operate under state control selling local handicraft at fixed prices and issue an authenticity receipt or a certificate of origin for customs when exporting. Souks are worthwhile places to visit for local products. Special buys are leather, tanned and dyed in Fez or Marrakesh, copperware, silver, silk or cotton garments, wool, cotton and silk rugs, carpets and blankets, wooden articles, embroidery, silver and gold jewels. Bargaining is essential. In traditional medinas, some shops may close on Friday (religious holiday of the week) and stay open on Saturday and Sunday.

Leisure and sport activities

Water sports: swimming in the Atlantic or the Mediterranean sea or in swimming pools, Windsurf in Essaouira or Oualidia.

Fishing (permits are sometimes necessary)

Hunting in the region of Arbaoua (permits necessary) are some of the main pleasure Morocco may offer you.

Golf: there are marvelous golf courses (18 holes, 9 holes) at Rabat, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Marrakech, El Jadida, Agadir, Tangier, Tetuan.

Winter sports: Ifrane in the Middle Atlas and Oukaimeden in the High Atlas offer skiing facilities.

Horse-riding: there are horse riding clubs in all major towns, notably Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fes and Agadir.

Casinos

Le Grand Casino La Mamounia in Marrakech: is a worldwide renowned casino, next to La Mamounia hotel. English roulette, black-jack, Caribbean stud poker, mini-punto-banco. Slot machines.

Le Casino at Es Saadi Hotel in Marrakech: slot machines only.

Shem's Casino in Agadir: is a brand new casino - roulette, black jack, poker, punto banco, chemin de fer, slot machines.

Le Mirage Casino in Agadir Village club Valtur: slot machines, pocker, English roulette, black jack.

Morocco is a nation with all the features this term implies: historic legality, geographical unity, historical continuity and cultural traditions.

Official name of the country : The Kingdom of Morocco

Capital : Rabat
Surface: 710.850 square km

Population: Over 29 million inhabitants, of whom more than half are under 20 years old

Head of state: His Majesty King Mohammed VI

National days: November 18th, Independence Day

Language: Moroccan, French, Berber (Tamazight), Arabic, English and Spanish

Religion: Islam is the religion of the state. His Majesty the King is also the spiritual leader and bears the title of Amir Al Mouminine, i.e. Commander o the faithful.

Currency: the unit of currency is the dirham (DH) which is subdivided into 100 centimes.

Main towns: Casablanca, as economic capital, Rabat, the country and administrative capital, Sale Conurbation, Fez, spiritual capital, Agadir, tourism capital, Laayoune, Sahara capital, Marrakech, Meknes, Tangiers, Oujda, Taroudant,, Ouarzazate, Tan Tan and Smara.

Why would you like to go back to El Jadida City?

By: Bobby Setzer

I have been asked several times, "Why would you want to visit Morocco?" Because it is about the closest, "exotic" country and has a great street life. What else did I find there? Read on ...

Morocco and the United States have a long history together. After the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Morocco was the first country to recognize the new nation. And they are currently alongside us in the forefront of the War on Terrorism, having recently arrested several members of an Al Caida cell there, including the leader, a Saudi Arabian married to a Moroccan woman. The individuals arrested are currently being questioned by both the Moroccan and American intelligence communities..

Morocco is a beautiful country, being located on the northwest tip of Africa, across the Straits of Gibraltar from Spain and Europe. It consists of a Mediterranean biosphere in the north, with a spine of high mountains (the Atlas) down the eastern part of the country, trailing away to the Sahara east and south of the mountains. The population has doubled in the past 30 years or so, to around 30 million as of 2000. Most of the population lives along the 500-mile Atlantic coast. The financial and business center of the country is Casablanca, a modern city of 4 or 5 million people.

I spent most of my time in El' Jadida, a small coastal city of 150,000 about 65 miles southwest of Casablanca. It is known in Morocco as a great place to escape the heat of the interior during the summer months, and you find a good many tourists there from Marrakech, Fes, and Meknes, all of which have Oklahoma-like summer temperatures. El' Jadida's temperatures during last half of June and the first half of July ranged from a high of 77 to 80 degrees in the afternoon to 65 or 68 degrees at night. The city has a three mile-long beach spreading east away from the old Portuguese City (now the medina). There is also a well-known beach at Sidi Bouzid, about 3 miles to the southwest.

The people of Morocco are mostly poor, but nearly all seem to have what they need, though not necessarily all that they might want. They do not always have running water in their homes, but there are always the nearby hammams, where for a dirham (about 10 cents), women can get a shower or bath most any time of the day until 11 p.m. or so. The men have separate hammams, and although I never visited one, I understand they are widely used by the Moroccans. At least, even when in crowds, I never smelled anyone. They seem to be fanatical about their personal hygiene and appearance. You almost never see anyone on the street who is not dressed in clean clothing unless they are working at a dirty job, whether it be in western-style clothes or the robes traditionally associated with the Near East.

I understand there is a modern supermarket in El' Jadida, though I never saw it. Instead, each evening between 5 and 6, it seemed that half the city would make their way on foot through downtown to the nearby market area. Some walk, some come by bus, some in their own cars, some by way of the "petit taxis" which are virtually everywhere in the city, and can be seen in droves on some of the busier streets. They are a different color in each city. Those in El' Jadida are all beige ($2 or less will take you virtually anywhere in the city), while in Casablanca, they are all red. The market area spreads out onto the nearby streets, where you will find clothing, scarves, shoes, bags, jewelry, make-up, etc., set up on tables and on the sidewalk. You will also find these same items in several little stores, but then there are the contiguous shops where you can buy vegetables (primarily tomatoes, onions, carrots, potatoes, corn, turnips, squash, lentils, etc.) In another area, you find the meat shops dispensing beef, mutton, and chickens. In another area are the shops for the household goods--towels, dishes, pots, and such.

Many, if not most, simply come to "promenade" with no intention of buying anything, but just to walk, see, and be seen. There are many sidewalk cafes, where men sit and sip their coffee, or the hot, sweet mint tea which I loved, and watch the passing parade. Young people of both sexes wear western (not cowboy) style clothing, but once married and with children, women tend to wear the traditional robes and head scarves. Middle-aged and older men also are mostly found in robes. Moroccans in general are a handsome people, with the olive skin typically associated with Italians, and dark hair, typically a bit kinky, or at least curly. The Berbers of the countryside and mountains tend to have fairer skin, and many have reddish hair and blue or green eyes. Perhaps 5% of the population is Black African, descended from the same slaves which populated much of the Americas. But they are black, undiluted by Arab or Berber blood, as they seem not to have mixed with the rest of the population.

The people are very friendly, and will frequently take the opportunity to talk with a foreigner. Almost no one speaks English, so these conversations always take place in French, or sometimes, Spanish. A Moroccan typically grows up speaking Maghribi Arabic in the home and is taught French in school as a business and cultural language. And as in any poor country, a foreigner can sometimes be overwhelmed by the offers made by various young men hustling one thing or another, typically guide services. It is sometimes easier to hire one of them as a guide if for no other reason than to have them fend off other would-be guides. $5 to $10 for a day is the usual going rate for such services. They will also bargain for you in the marketplace if, like me, you hate the process. You just have to be careful they are not in cahoots with the shopkeeper for a part of your purchase price.

While nominally Moslem, I didn't meet anyone who attended religious services in the mosques, or did the prescribed 5 daily prayers to Allah while facing Mecca. One "grand taxi" driver with whom I rode had prayer beads hanging from his rear-view mirror and a tape of Koran readings (I presume) playing. I also saw one man on a beach at nearby Azzemour praying on his prayer rug. But for the general population, when the muezzin's call for prayer 5 times daily went out from the minarets over the loud speakers, it was mostly ignored. That said, although not very religious, Moroccans are among the kindest, most gentle people I have ever encountered. Although you never see two or more Moroccans together but what they are engaged in a loud and animated conversation, only once did I see any hostility, and that was between two street vendors arguing over a space on the street. A very short man punched a tall man on the arm, and the tall man kicked the short man in return. Then it was over as suddenly as it had begun.

There is a university in the city, but that has created somewhat of a problem in that there are now a number of educated individuals with no jobs available which use their university education. They typical school provides nine years of education, then the individual goes to university, or more likely, to a school to learn barbering, taxi driving, or mechanics.

The city is surrounded on the north and west by the Atlantic, and on the east and south by small farms where much of the local produce is grown, including sheep, cattle, and chickens. Watermelons are also widely grown in the area, and are cheap and delicious. They tend to be meatier and less juicy, but sweeter, than watermelons grown in the Valliant area. I was particularly intrigued by those grown in square boxes, making the melons square for more compact shipping. Bananas are grown a hundred miles to the south, around Agadir, and are smaller and sweeter than those we typically find in our supermarkets which are grown in Central America.

Like southern Europeans, notably the Italians, Moroccan men will ogle young women, and make suggestive comments toward them. Unless a young woman knows the man well, or has been formally introduced, she will totally ignore both the man and his comments. I found this to be the case with most all Moroccans -- when being given a hard sell by a vendor, or other person hustling something, they will usually treat them as a piece of the landscape--that is, totally ignore them. I quickly adopted this trait.

I never encountered any hostility during my sojourn in the country, and in fact, just the opposite. However, the populace was in general unfamiliar with Americans, and most assumed I was French, until and unless I informed them otherwise. Even then, there was never a problem. Young girls, as well as boys, would sometimes come up to me on the beach promenade and start a conversation, typically asking me my name, where I was from, etc. They had never heard the name Bobby before, so I began telling them my name was Robert, with a French pronunciation. They knew and could say that name.

One interesting thing on the beach was that those in the water were not seen like in the U.S., scattered here and there. They would all be concentrated in one area, then strung out into the waves in almost one line 3 or 4 across, apparently buddy-like keeping an eye on their compares for safety purposes. Sunbathers would, like everywhere, be all over the beach. The beach was also where the young men played their soccer games, marking off a field and setting up their temporary goals.

Most Jadidans seem to live in 4- or 5-story apartment blocks. As can be imagined, with the rapid population increase, new apartment blocks are feverishly being built to keep up, I was told mostly by the French. The advance wave of young people born during the beginning of the baby boom there are now in their mid to late twenties, about the age at which most Moroccans marry. I did not see women with more than 2 or 3 children, so the baby boom is apparently losing some of its steam, and hopefully Morocco will be better able to cope with the smaller population grown rate in the future.

The old king, Hassan II, died three years ago, and his son, the new king, Mohammed VI has begun to institute more democratic reforms in the government. Despite having a democratically elected parliament, Morocco is still effectively run by the king and royal advisers based in his main palace in Rabat. The prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, and key ministers are directly appointed by the king, who is considered a direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed.

At the end of my sojourn, I found it hard to leave this beautiful country, and the beautiful, spring-like weather I had enjoyed during my stay. Needless to say, I hope to return someday, hopefully speaking French a little better, and maybe even some "Marocain"

Foreign Investment in Morocco

Morocco has opted for a liberal, diversified economy, based on private initiative and largely open on the outside world. It offers conditions of success to investors thanks to its economic potentialities and human resources, to the perspectives which it enjoys as a link between two economic entities, the Maghreb and Europe, and particularly thanks to the political will to encourage investments.

Thanks to its remarkable performance, particularly in the industrial sector, Morocco is already in a position to contribute to an important potential with a view to engage in an efficient collaboration between operators interested in Morocco and abroad: trade exchange, sub-constructing, join venture investments and technical cooperation.

The country has continuously strive to improve the investment climate through the strengthening of inducing measures and encouragement in favor of both national and foreign investors, notably through the following:

* Investment Codes interesting various economic sectors: industry, mining, maritime fisheries, real-estate, tourism, handicrafts, exportations;

* An exchange regulation that authorizes free and automatic transfer of the capital invested and related revenues;

* An investment credit policy and a reform of the financial system which aims to adapt the Moroccan banking system to European standards;

* Good quality reception infrastructures in such areas as road network, telecommunications and industrial zones;

* Agreements avoiding double taxation and ensuring investment guarantee along with bilateral and multilateral trade agreements;

* Harmonization and generalization in the area of accountancy: Morocco has endowed itself with a general Code of accounting normalization;

* A global reform of the capital market comprising the reform of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, the creation of collective bodies for the investment of movable property under the form of ICV's (investment companies with variable capital) and the creation of common investment funds;

* The creation of financial offshore markets, the first of which is operational since 1992 in Tangier;

* A large privatization program.