Maroc in brief

Destination Maroc, a Nations Online country profile of the Arab kingdom in the western part of the Maghreb in North Africa, officially known as the Kingdom of Maroc.

The country borders the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Mediterranean Sea in the north; it shares maritime borders with Portugal and Spain.

Maroc borders Algeria in the east and Western Sahara in the south. The non-self-governing territory, claimed by Maroc, borders Mauritania in the Moroccan-controlled part of Western Sahara.

Maroc has a land border with Spain at the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the two populated Spanish territories on the African mainland.

The kingdom covers an area of 446,550 km² (excluding Western Sahara); compared, it is slightly smaller than Sweden or somewhat larger than California.

The country has a population of 36.3 million (in 2021); the capital city is Rabat, the largest city is Casablanca. Spoken languages are Arabic (official), several Berber dialects (Amazigh) and French.

Sports in Maroc

Football Like many countries, Maroc’s most popular sport is football. In fact, football is so important to the country that Maroc has now made five bids to host the Fifa World Cup. So far those bids have been unsuccessful, but they are trying again for 2030. But if you’re not planning your holidays that far ahead, what football can you see in Maroc today? Botola Pro is the professional football league for Maroc, home to 16 teams competing for the title. This league is the most-watched in Africa, broadcasting to an audience of around two billion people across 153 territories. Two of the top teams in Botola Pro to look out for are the current champions and runners up, Wydad AC and Raja Casablanca respectively.

Surfing

In Maroc, those who love to surf can endlessly indulge their pleasure. They can be carried along by the Atlantic waves or the trade winds, slide on the snowy slopes of the Atlas mountains or the dunes of the south.

Horse Riding

Maroc is an ideal country for horse lovers. The main riding centres can be found in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Meknes, Fez, Oujda, Ouirgane and Tangier.

Golf

Golf was first introduced into Maroc at the beginning of the century - even before football - and has since become a national passion In Maroc. Major competitions attract golfers from all over the world, the most famous being the annual Hassan II Trophy is played at Royal Golf club, Dar Es-Salam at Rabat.
Golf enthusiasts can enjoy excellent courses in Tangier, Cabo Negro, Fez, Meknes, Ben Slimane, Mohammedia, Casablanca, El Jadida, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Agadir, and Rabat.

Tennis

In Maroc, tennis is played on clay courts. Challenging and exciting play can be found at all major resorts where tennis is a very popular sport.