The strategic development project for the Southern Provinces is involving an investment of 15.06 billion dirhams, with an opening scheduled for 2029.
The modernisation of the Kingdom’s maritime capabilities has reached a decisive milestone on its Atlantic coast. According to the financial data included in the draft Finance Bill for the year 2027, the progress rate of construction work on the Port of Dakhla Atlantique has reached seventy-five per cent as of November 2026. With a revised total budget of nearly fifteen billion and sixty million dirhams, this major project is on schedule, with structural work due to be completed by the end of 2028, ahead of its commercial launch in 2029. This major infrastructure project embodies the commitment to transforming the Southern Provinces into a leading logistics hub, connected to the major trade routes linking West Africa, the Americas and international markets, whilst providing the landlocked states of the Sahel with direct maritime access as part of the Atlantic Initiative.
An industrial ecosystem spanning 1,650 hectares
In addition to its cargo-handling and maritime transit functions, the development centres on a vast integrated economic complex covering a total area of 1,650 hectares. This development comprises a 650-hectare port area and an industrial and logistics park extending over nearly 1,000 hectares. These areas are designed to accommodate strategic investments in the processing of marine fisheries products, logistics services and future-oriented sectors linked to clean energy. The infrastructure will play a central role in supporting the green hydrogen sector by providing dedicated facilities for the storage and export of ammonia and carbon-free fuels, thereby fostering the emergence of a cutting-edge industry in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region.
Benefits for regional integration and the local economy
The full utilisation of this port facility will depend on its close integration with major strategic road networks, foremost among which is the motorway linking Tiznit to Dakhla. This land link will ensure the smooth flow of trade between the various national production regions and the markets of sub-Saharan Africa, whilst facilitating the export of regional agricultural and fisheries products. Attracting global shipping companies and logistics operators will stimulate the creation of sustainable skilled jobs, enhance the technical skills of the local workforce and diversify the region’s productive base. By equipping the region with world-class maritime infrastructure, the country is consolidating its regional development model and strengthening the economic resilience of the African Atlantic region.
