## Why go to Morocco

Morocco has beaches along the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. There are many beautiful beaches to relax. Tangier and Agadir are popular holiday destinations for foreign visitors, while Asilah attracts mainly locals and Spanish visitors.Although places such as El Jadida, Oualidia and El Jebha are relatively under-visited by foreign tourists, a significant number of domestic tourists visit during the summer months. The most popular beaches usually have great facilities within easy reach and some destinations such as Essaouria are ideal for water sports enthusiasts.

## The capital of Morocco

Rabat is the capital of Morocco and its second largest city with a city population of approximately 580,000. It is also the capital of the administrative region of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra with a metropolitan population of more than 1.2 million.

## King of Morocco

Mohammed VI (Arabic: محمد السادس; Berber languages: ⴰⴳⴳⵍⵉⴷ ⵎⵓⵃⴰⵎⵎⴷ ⵙⴷⵉⵙ; born August 21, 1963) is King of Morocco. He is a member of the Alaouite dynasty and ascended the throne on July 23, 1999, after the death of his father, King Hassan II.

## Flag of Morocco

The red background on the Moroccan flag represents perseverance, bravery, strength and courage, while the green background represents love, joy, wisdom, peace and hope; it also represents the color of Islam and the pentagram represents the seal of Solomon. The five branches also represent the pillars of Islam.

## Population of Morocco

The population is 33,986,655 (40th in the world, 2017)

According to current forecasts, Morocco's population is expected to peak at 47.77 million in 2069. Over the last 50 years, Morocco's total population has increased by 180% and has grown by 10 % year on year.

Morocco's population is growing at a rate of 1.2% per year, which has decreased slightly in the last few years.

Morocco remains a demographically young country with a median age of 29.5 years and a birth rate of 2.42 births per woman, well above the population replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman. This combination will allow the people of Morocco to continue to grow well into the future, albeit not as quickly as other African countries. Population growth in Morocco is slightly slowed by negative net migration of about 50,000 people a year.

## Holidays in Morocco

List of national and public holidays in Morocco for 2020

- Independence Day is Saturday, January 11, 2020
- Ramadan 2020 will begin on Thursday, April 23, 2020
- Labor Day is Friday, May 1, 2020
- Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) is on Sunday, May 24, 2020
- The day of the throne is Thursday, July 30, 2020
- Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) is Friday, July 31, 2020
- Oued Ed-Dahab Day is Friday, August 14, 2020
- Morocco Revolution Day is Thursday, August 20, 2020
- The Islamic New Year is Thursday, August 20, 2020
- Youth Day is Friday, August 21, 2020
- The birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Milad un Nabi) is on Thursday, October 29, 2020
- Green March Day is Friday, November 6, 2020
- Independence Day is Wednesday, November 18, 2020

## Sign of Morocco

The current coat of arms of Morocco (formally the royal emblem) was introduced on August 14, 1957. It was developed by graphic artists Gauthier and Hainaut and shows a green pentagram, namely a two-dimensional Penrose pentacle on a red background in front of the Atlas Mountains and the rising sun.

## Currency of Morocco

The Moroccan Dirham is the currency of Morocco. Our currency rating shows that the most popular Moroccan Dirham exchange rate is the EUR to MAD exchange rate. The currency code for Dirhams is MAD.

### Prices in Morocco

#### Food prices

| Foodstuffs GBP EUR
|-----------------|------|--------|
| Lettuce 0,27 | 0.3 |
| Bread 500 g 0,36 | 0.4 |
| Apples 1 kg 1,08 | 1.2 |
| Chicken breast 1 kg 3,06 | 3.4 |
| Milk 1 l 0,63 | 0.7 |

#### Prices of soft drinks

| Non - alcoholic beverage GBP EUR
|-----------------------|-------|-----|
| Cappuccino | 1,08 | 1.2 |
| Coca-Cola 0.33 l | 0,45 | 0.5 |
| Water 0.33 l | 0,27 | 0.3 |
| Water 1.5 l | 0,54 | 0.6 |

#### Transport

| Transport GBP EUR
|-------------------------------------|------|-------|
| Monthly public transport coupon 12,59 | 14 |
| Taxi - price for 1 km 0,45 | 0.5 |
| Taxi - boarding rate 0,54 | 0.6 |

#### Other

| Alcohol and cigarettes GBP EUR
|-------------------------------|--------|-------|
| Bottle of medium quality wine 4,94 | 5.5 |
| Local draft beer 0.5 l 2,07 | 2.3
| Local beer in a 0.5 l bottle 1,53| 1.7 |
| Imported beer - 0.33 l bottle 1,71 | 1.9 |
| Branded cigarettes 2,7 | 3 |

## Visa to Morocco

Citizens of the UK do not need a visa to Morocco if the stay does not exceed 90 days. After landing in Morocco, you just have to fill out a form with identification data. Information on where you will be staying in Morocco is also required. Therefore, have the address of the accommodation facility ready at hand. If you prefer to stay on site, book a hotel for at least the first night of your stay.

More information can be found here on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UK: <https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements>

## Vaccination in Morocco

No special vaccination is required to travel to Morocco and an international vaccination card is not required when entering Morocco.

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Morocco: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhus, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza .

## Security in Morocco

The government places the highest priority on protecting its people, economy and political system from terrorist and criminal elements.

Morocco's geographical location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Middle East exposes them to transnational threats, including illegal immigration and human trafficking and narcotics. As part of its customs and port security agreements with the United States and other countries, Morocco has committed itself to making significant updates and maintaining high security standards at its airports, seaports and border crossings. These provides similar security protection as some government facilities.

## Interesting facts about Morocco

At more than 172,000 square miles, Morocco is only slightly larger than the state of California. The Moroccan environment is as diverse as the environment of California, deserts, mountains, lush forests and beautiful coastlines.

The extreme altitude in Morocco covers a wide range. The highest point in the country is Jebel Toubkal at an altitude of 13,665 meters above sea level. The lowest point is Sebkha Tah, which is 180 feet below sea level.

Morocco's population is still growing. This is partly due to better health care, better food sources and better hygiene practices. The population increased from less than 6 million in 1921 to 32 million in 2011.

The first inhabitants of the territory of today's Morocco were immigrants who tried to flee the Sahara region, because it dried up and a widening desert was created there. They fled to the Atlas Mountains and later to the coastal areas. They were joined by other migrants from the region and created the roots of Amazon (Berber) culture.

## Important contacts

**Where to call in case of emergency in Morocco?**

- Police: 19 and 190
- Firefighters and medical assistance: 15
- Accidents (ambulance): 150

**Morocco's telephone code is +212.**

**Contacts at the Embassy of the UK in Rabat:**

**Address:**

```txt
British Embassy Rabat
 28 Avenue S.A.R. Sidi Mohammed, Souissi 10105, Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco
```

Phone: +212 5376-33333

Email: UKinMorocco.Ambassador@fcdo.gov.uk

Further contacts can be found at: <https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-rabat>

Africa

Guide to Morocco

Africa