Russia-Africa Summit : High-level Moroccan presence
An agile diplomacy rooted in a multipolar world
A constructive dialogue focused on pragmatic development
2030 World Cup : Morocco’s bid for final defended by Lekjaa
Invited on the channel 2M, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation detailed the progress of the Grand Stade Hassan II. He believes that its 115,000-seat capacity makes it the natural candidate to host the 2030 World Cup final.
The allocation of the 2030 World Cup final is supported by strong arguments put forward by national sports authorities. Appearing this Wednesday, 28 October 2026, on the show Saât Assaraha broadcast on channel 2M, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and head of the Morocco 2030 Foundation, Fouzi Lekjaa, addressed the main directions of the project. Evoking the monumental construction site of the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, the official affirmed that the venue possesses all the necessary assets to host the ultimate match of the centennial competition. He notably emphasized that the World Cup final should naturally be awarded to the stadium offering the largest seating capacity of the tournament, a key criterion that places the Moroccan project in the lead with its planned 115,000 seats.
Early completion in 2028 and an urban metamorphosis
Beyond the sporting competition, the construction of this venue is integrated into a broader strategy of urban development and transformation for the Casablanca metropolis. The project is accompanied by a vast transport infrastructure programme including the development of the regional express network and the extension of the high-speed rail line. Regarding the construction schedule, forecasts point to full delivery of the facility by early 2028, nearly two years before the kickoff of the global tournament. This early completion will allow the teams of Wydad, Raja, as well as the national team of the Atlas Lions, to step onto the stadium pitch and play several high-profile international matches well before the 2030 spectacle.
A civilisational ambition beyond match allocations
While reaffirming the legitimate ambitions of the national bid to host the final against Spanish and Portuguese proposals, the sports executive was keen to frame this effort within the strategic guidelines set by the royal vision. Recalling the significance of the royal message delivered in Kigali during the announcement of the tripartite bid, the official insisted on the human, historical, and civilisational dimension uniting the nations on both shores of the Mediterranean. Jointly hosting the 2030 World Cup represents a unique opportunity to promote togetherness and strengthen cultural bridges between African and European peoples around the universal values of sport.
Chinese investments in Morocco : Ten billion committed to the automotive sector
Morocco is attracting over ten billion dollars in Chinese capital into batteries and renewable energy. Despite this massive effort, no automaker from the Middle Kingdom directly assembles its vehicles there yet.
Asian economic presence on national territory is crossing historical thresholds in high-tech and advanced industrial sectors. According to an analysis published in late October 2026, investment commitments from China to Morocco have passed the symbolic threshold of ten billion dollars. This major financial dynamic focuses primarily on the electric vehicle value chain, including the manufacture of next-generation batteries, the processing of industrial materials, and the development of green energy. In Kénitra, giant Gotion High-Tech is deploying a battery gigafactory for an initial sum of over one billion dollars, while in Jorf Lasfar and Tangier Tech, other major players such as CNGR and BTR are consolidating the national ecosystem.
The absence of direct assembly units from Chinese automakers
Although the Kingdom has established itself as a major automotive assembly hub thanks to the successful operations of the Renault and Stellantis groups, Chinese car brands still do not operate their own production facilities on national soil. The flagship project once led by automaker BYD in Tangier resulted in the abandonment of the assembly plant due to financing constraints and the lack of maturity of charging infrastructure at the time. High-end components and materials thus continue to be manufactured locally to supply international supply chains, without complete vehicles carrying Asian brand names currently rolling off Moroccan assembly lines.
The European customs framework as a major strategic lever
The sustained interest of Beijing’s industrial players in the Moroccan platform is explained by decisive tax and geopolitical stakes facing European Union trade rules. Indeed, electric vehicles exported directly from China to the European continent face standard customs duties combined with surcharges that can reach particularly deterrent levels. By setting up factories in Morocco to benefit from free trade agreements and preferential rules of origin, these industrialists intend to leverage local phosphate resources, the proximity of the Tanger Med port, and the existing network of subcontractors. The upcoming opening of a first complete assembly line would thus represent the ultimate stage of this large-scale industrial cooperation.
Nador West Med and Tanger Med 3 : Morocco accelerates
The Kingdom is strengthening its strategic port infrastructure with the imminent commissioning of the first terminal at Nador West Med and the launch of Tanger Med 3. These projects consolidate the country’s position as a global logistics hub.
The Kingdom is taking a decisive step in consolidating its international maritime and logistics leadership. During a working session chaired on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at the Royal Palace in Rabat by King Mohammed VI, the progress of the Nador West Med port complex and the Tanger Med 3 extension were presented. These two structural projects are part of the royal vision aimed at transforming the Mediterranean coastline into a major engine for economic and industrial attractiveness. Thanks to a massive investment effort combining public and private capital, Morocco is establishing itself more than ever as the preferred gateway and vital crossroads for trade flows between Africa, Europe, and the rest of the world.
Nador West Med: An industrial and energy engine for the Oriental region
Requiring an overall budget of 54 billion dirhams, the Nador West Med complex is preparing to bring its first container terminal into operation in the coming days. With a cumulative capacity that will reach 5.3 million containers per year by 2027, the platform also incorporates a leading energy component featuring a liquefied natural gas terminal and major hydrocarbon storage areas. To open up the Oriental region and connect the port to national networks, strategic motorway and rail links have been deployed from Guercif and Selouane. This industrial hub aims to create tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs by 2035 to stimulate regional development.
Tanger Med 3: Heading towards the top 10 global megaports
In parallel, the imminent start of work on Tanger Med 3 for an investment of 8 billion dirhams extends the exceptional success of the Tangier complex. Featuring 1,200 metres of quays, this new infrastructure will provide an additional capacity of 4.5 million containers per year, operated under a concession granted to shipping line Maersk-APM. Thanks to this major extension, Tanger Med’s overall capacity is projected at 20 million containers annually, elevating the Moroccan port into the top ten largest container platforms on the planet. This reinforced industrial ecosystem accompanies the sustained growth of the automotive sector and supports the country’s integration into global value chains.
Taliouine : Safran harvest mobilises Morocco
In Taroudant province, harvesting red gold requires meticulous know-how passed down through generations of women. Facing climate challenges and labor scarcity, the sector maintains its high standards of quality.
At the heart of Taroudant province, late October marks the launch of an agricultural campaign of extreme precision in the historical cradle of red gold. In Taliouine, an iconic region for national production, hundreds of women gather before dawn to pick the saffron flower during a condensed three-week period. Morning harvesting is a fundamental technical requirement to pick the flowers while still closed and preserve the flavor and aromatic integrity of the precious filaments. This seasonal frenzy perpetuates an ancestral tradition within local cooperatives, where mastery of gesture dictates the reputation of an exceptional spice marketed across the Kingdom and internationally.
A transformation process entirely shaped by hand
The delicacy of this crop requires constant rigor during the steps following picking in the fields. Transported to processing units, the flowers are trimmed by hand to scrupulously extract the three characteristic red filaments, keeping in mind that approximately 140 flowers are required to yield a single gram of dried spice. Drying is then carried out either using controlled dryers to speed up the process, or in sheltered rooms away from direct sunlight for several days. This painstaking manual labor relies on a skilled female workforce that is increasingly difficult to mobilize at the exact moment of flowering.
The resilience of a terroir facing climate hazards
The thriving of the saffron plant relies on very specific soil and climate conditions based on suitable soils and a cool climate, making Taliouine and Taznakht the two main strongholds for this production at the national level. Caring for the corms, which are renewed every six to seven years, requires precise drip-irrigation cycles, particularly in early spring and just before autumn flowering. Although persistent drought in recent years has weighed heavily on yields, recent rainfall in the region has brought welcome relief to producers. This combination of environmental constraints and human effort justifies the exceptional status of the king of spices.
Sahara : US draft resolution at UN protects Morocco
The final version of the US draft resolution on Western Sahara confirms the Kingdom’s diplomatic gains. Despite adjustments under pressure from China and Russia, the text reinforces the autonomy plan.
The diplomatic framework at the United Nations is pointing towards a new strategic success for the Kingdom regarding its Southern Provinces. The United States has unveiled the final version of the Security Council draft resolution on Western Sahara ahead of its official adoption. Despite some formal adjustments negotiated behind closed doors, the final draft preserves the essential core interests of Moroccan diplomacy. The text approves extending MINURSO’s mandate until 31 October 2027 while initiating its gradual transformation into a political mission. It explicitly rules out any role for the mission in organizing a referendum, thereby addressing long-standing requirements set out by the Moroccan government.
A major diplomatic setback for Algiers and the Polisario Front
The provisions finalized in the UN document are generating deep disappointment among Polisario Front leaders and their Algerian backers. The Security Council explicitly highlights the growing number of countries supporting the Moroccan autonomy initiative under the Kingdom’s sovereignty as the sole credible basis for negotiation. Furthermore, the resolution recommends broadening consultations to a wide range of representatives of the Sahrawi population, including civil society, residents of the Southern Provinces, and the diaspora. This opening puts an end to the armed movement’s claim to be the exclusive interlocutor. The text also insists on the mandatory registration of refugees in the Tindouf camps by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Cosmetic adjustments negotiated by Beijing and Moscow
Last-minute amendments introduced to the US draft stem from political compromises reached with China and Russia within the Security Council. These adjustments led to the removal of personalized references praising direct initiatives by US President Donald Trump, as well as references to unilateral negotiation cycles organized by Washington. These modifications aim to reaffirm the exclusive central role of the United Nations and Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura in guiding the political process. However, these formal realignments do not alter the substance of the text, which establishes autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the path toward a lasting political solution.
UN : Morocco aligns with the United States on Cuba
During the UN General Assembly vote demanding the lifting of the US embargo on Cuba, the Kingdom voted against the resolution. This position confirms the strategic alignment of Moroccan diplomacy with Washington.
Moroccan diplomacy reaffirms its strategic alliances on the international stage during major multilateral debates. On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new non-binding resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States since 1962. During the vote, the text received 130 votes in favour, marking a significant drop in international support for the Havana government compared to the 165 votes recorded during the September 2025 session. By voting against this resolution alongside 17 other nations such as Israel, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine, Morocco clearly reaffirms its geopolitical choice to support the US line.
A diplomatic evolution in the wake of relations with Washington
This negative vote follows the positions consistently taken by national diplomacy over recent months. The Kingdom had already expressed its opposition last July regarding the opening of a general debate on US financial sanctions targeting Cuba. This policy shift accelerated following executive developments in Washington in January 2025, reflecting a progressive hardening compared to the abstention observed by the country during the September 2025 UN vote. This strategic consistency was also on display on 30 June, when the country opposed allocating budget envelopes to the World Food Programme for humanitarian aid to the island.
Complex bilateral relations with the Havana regime
This firm stance on the Cuban file comes in a specific bilateral context between the two nations. Although the Kingdom restored official diplomatic relations with Havana on 21 April 2017 after nearly four decades of rupture, Cuban diplomacy maintains constant political support for the Polisario separatist movement. The Cuban regime’s continued recognition of the self-proclaimed republic constitutes a major friction point weighing on the complete normalisation of exchanges, explaining the strict choices made by Morocco during strategic votes at UN headquarters in New York.
Argan : Moroccan research awarded in China
A team of scientists from Mohammed V University in Rabat won two prestigious awards at the World Young Scientist Summit. Their work focuses on the sustainable valorisation of argan press cake in the agri-food industry.
The excellence of national scientific research shines once again on the international stage. At the World Young Scientist Summit 2026, held in Wenzhou in eastern China, a team of researchers from Mohammed V University in Rabat secured two top-tier honours. The delegation from the Faculty of Sciences of Rabat distinguished itself through an innovative study dedicated to the sustainable use of argan press cake, a plant by-product resulting from argan oil extraction. Researchers Badr Eddine Kartah, Asma El Kaourat, and Hanae El Monfalouti won the award for best scientific paper, while Professor Kartah was also awarded the prize for best oral presentation before a panel of global specialists.
Agri-food valorisation of an iconic Kingdom resource
Titled « Sustainable valorisation of argan press cake: nutritional and technological quality of wheat bread enriched with argan press cake« , the study explores incorporating these residues into breadmaking to boost the nutritional value of everyday food. Developed within the Plant Chemistry and Organic and Bioorganic Synthesis Laboratory, this approach fully aligns with circular economy principles and raw material waste reduction. This innovation has also been granted a national patent filed with the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC), while securing a scientific publication in the leading international journal Foods.
The country’s scientific potential highlighted in Wenzhou
This double award crowns the talent of national researchers during a major global gathering bringing together nearly eight hundred participants from over sixty countries. Up against more than three hundred high-level scientific presentations covering advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development, the Moroccan contribution won over international panels through its industrial relevance and territorial roots. This global success demonstrates the capacity of the country’s universities to transform local natural resources into high-value technological solutions, paving the way for promising economic outlets in the agri-food sector.
GMT time in Morocco : Assessment one month after adoption
One month after the permanent return to Greenwich Mean Time, Moroccan citizens are noticing the first impacts on their daily lives. This change now dictates family, school, and administrative routines across the entire country.
One month after officially abandoning daylight saving time in favour of a permanent return to Greenwich Mean Time, the daily routine of the Moroccan population is undergoing a profound reorganization. Following eight years of continuous application of the GMT+1 time zone, this restoration of legal winter time significantly alters morning routines—from getting ready for school to leaving for work—while making it easier to perform daily prayers. For a large majority of citizens, this transition, perceived as a return to normal, realigns official time with society’s natural biological rhythm. Beyond simple adjustments of clock hands, this decision is already producing visible effects on social life, family dynamics, and general household organization.
A positive impact on biological and school rhythms
According to social psychology analysts, ditching the extra hour promotes better alignment between wake-up times and morning daylight. This agreement proves particularly beneficial for young pupils and workers required to wake up early, contributing to the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. On an educational level, community stakeholders highlight that this timeframe lightens the physical and psychological fatigue of children in their early school years. Parents, particularly mothers, now benefit from significantly calmer conditions when preparing their children to leave for school at more suitable times.
Repercussions on administration and social life
This time change also influences the functioning of public services and the organization of daily activities. Observers note an improvement in punctuality across government offices and public services, reducing official tardiness that was previously common under the former time regime. Furthermore, the earlier sunset alters commuting habits, shopping, leisure activities, and family visits. While calling for health benefits not to be overstated in the absence of comprehensive comparative studies, specialists agree that the real victory lies in the restored harmony between social time and the fundamental needs of citizens.
Attractiveness : Morocco in Africa’s top 4
The Kingdom is gaining ground in Rand Merchant Bank’s investment ranking, climbing to fourth place on the continent. This progress is driven by a strong industrial sector and modern infrastructure.
The Kingdom is strengthening its strategic positioning among the most popular destinations for international investors on the African continent. In the latest edition of the Where to Invest in Africa report published by investment bank Rand Merchant Bank, Morocco secured fourth place continent-wide, placing just behind Seychelles, Mauritius, and Egypt. By now moving ahead of South Africa, the country confirms the effectiveness of its economic policies and the solidity of its development model. This recognition by a world-leading financial institution validates the trajectory of an industrial and logistical hub turned towards global markets.
An automotive industry at the forefront of performance
The bank’s analysis highlights that the Kingdom was Africa’s best-performing industrial economy over the period studied. Experts praise the continuous move upmarket of the productive apparatus, increased export diversification, and the strategic vision deployed in key sectors. The automotive sector stands as the showcase of this success, with production having doubled over the past decade. Driven by sustained economic growth approaching 5% per year, the country is establishing itself as an essential industrial player for international investors seeking competitiveness.
The strategic impact of tourism and the 2030 World Cup
Industrial momentum is strongly reinforced by the exceptional performance of the tourism sector and major infrastructure. Having welcomed nearly 20 million visitors during 2025, generating revenue close to $13 billion, the country is now targeting the 26 million arrival milestone by the end of the decade. Jointly hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal opens a new cycle of major investments in transport, energy, and hospitality. The strategic challenge now lies in converting this international appeal into productive projects that create sustainable jobs for young people.
