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.
Equestrian sport
Equestrian sports are big crowd-drawers in Maroc, split between the principles of dressage, jumping, and fantasia. Fantasia, also known as Tbourida, is a traditional horsemanship exhibition that you are most likely to see during cultural festivals and if you are lucky enough to attend a Maghrebi wedding.
One particular draw for horse lovers is the annual Salon Du Cheval, a six-day international horse festival that celebrates all things equestrian through shows and competitions. Plan your trip to Maroc in October if you want to be a part of this spectacle! Equestrian sport in Maroc is governed by the Royal Moroccan Equestrian Federation, so if you want to know which equestrian events to attend and when start here.
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.
Watersports
Every kind of water sport is catered for on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast - Most the hotels on the coastline offer a wide range of water sports: surfing, windsurfing, sailing & yachting, canoeing, rowing, waterskiing, scuba diving and deep sea fishing.
Motorsports
Maroc plays host to some of the greatest international competitions; including the Paris-Dakar and Atlas Rallies. There are thousands of kilometres of tracks giving enthusiasts a wide selection of challenges. You can choose from tiny "quad" to the heavy long chassis four wheel drive, with or without driver. Contact a travel agent or a car hire company.
"The Friendship Raid" is open to motor bikes and found wheel drives, running from Tangier to Rabat and crossing the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara. It is not against the clock and it is an ideal opportunity to meet and get to know other like-minded people.
