Useful Information about Morocco
Index to Useful Information about Morocco
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The following information is compiled to the best of our knowledge and in good faith. E&OE.
General
Overview
Morocco is just a short distance away from Europe, across the narrow straits of Gibraltar, but undeniably it has a sharp contrast in culture and experience full of colour charm and mystery. Morocco is the closest part of Africa to Europe and its huge coastline borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Morocco has a largely Mediterranean climate and offers a wealth of exotic nature, architecture and cuisine but it is also famous for the quality crafts and wares always available in the many local markets. In recent years tourism has grown with people discovering the other hidden delights of central Morocco including the Rif and Atlas mountain ranges where some visitors go on skiing holidays. Further south the sands of the Western Sahara desert can be explored using camels, horses or four wheel drive utility vehicles.
Most visitors will undoubtably visit the enchanting Medieval Cities, notably Marrakech and Fez to experience the fascinating markets where the atmosphere is rich with the aromas of leather tanning. Snake charmers are another famous attraction as well as the huge variety of wares for sale.
Morocco is famous for its architecture and has many ancient monuments and buildings to explore. The culture has been influenced by the Phoenicians, the Romans, Vandals, Visgoths and the ancient Greeks until the 7th Century when the Arabs brought Islam and the Alaouite Dynasty. Its location has attracted many opportunists including the European Powers who have tried to control the northern tip. Spain still controls the two small enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla but the Kingdom of Morocco gained independence in 1956.
Due to the diverse past influences Morocco offers many visitors a worthwhile tour of mystique and charm not experienced anywhere else in the world.
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History
The native race of people in Morocco are known as the Berbers, an ancient race who, throughout history, have seen their country invaded by a succession of foreign powers.
The first foreign invaders were the Phonicians during the 12 century BC who set up various trading posts along the North African Coast. Later the Carthaginians took over these colonies and expanded the Carthaginian Empire.
By the second Century BC the North African Coast was dominated by the Romans for six hundred years. The Roman Empire fell into decline and during 429 AD the Vandals invaded followed by the Byzantium during 533 AD. During 682 AD an Arab invasion of Morocco ended the Byzantine dominance. The Arab Idrisid Dynasty ruled for 150 years and converted the Christian and Pagan inhabitants to Islam during this period.
The Arab and Berber dynasties succeeded the Idrisids, notably the Almoravids (1062-1147) and the Almohads (1147-1258). By 1212 the Alohads were defeated by the Spanish. However by 1250 Morocco fell into civil war with the Arab and Berber factions battling for supremacy.
Between 1579 and 1603 the Sharifian Dynasty stabilised Morocco and many Moors and Jews expelled from Spain settled in Morocco bringing prosperity to the country. Morocco prospered and became famous for arts and crafts; this period was known as the Golden Age.
Portuguese and Spanish powers were growing and control of many coastal towns was gained form Morocco, this continued until 1700 when control was regained.
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Barbary Coast became the scene of widespread piracy. Ships which traded in the Mediterranean were plundered and protection money was extorted from several sea-going nations.
Morocco shared possession of the Straits of Gibraltar with Spain, resulting in a focus of attention from the maritime powers in Europe, particularly France and Britain.
During 1904 Morocco was divided between France and Spain, with France receiving the larger area. These arrangements were regarded as spurious by Imperial Germany and, despite the Act of Algeciras (an agreement signed by the major powers in 1906, which guaranteed equal economic rights in Morocco), Germany was still dissatisfied.
A German gunboat was dispatched to the Moroccan port of Agadir during 1911. This was seen as an attempt to excite further nationalist unrest against the French. French troops were mobilized and Europe seemed poised on the edge of serious conflict. Negotiations resulted in Germany's agreement to the French protectorate over Morocco, in return for concessions elsewhere, and war was averted. The sultan of Morocco officially recognized the French protectorate during 1912.
During 1920 there was a revolt in Spanish Morocco and Moroccan resistance forces drove the Spanish forces out within 4 years. France and Spain then formed an alliance against and the revolutionary forces were defeated in 1926.
During the Second World War Morocco supported the Vichy government which ruled France after its capitulation to the Nazis in 1940. By 1942, American troops had landed and occupied Morocco, which was used as a supply base for the Allies during the remainder of the war. Heads of government from the Allies used Casablanca as an important meeting-place.
During 1950, the Sultan of Morocco requested self-government. This was rejected by the French and in 1953 the Sultan was deposed, but allowed to resume the throne two years later. Moroccan independence was not recognised by the French until 1956 and Sultan Mohammed V became King in 1957. At around the same time the Spanish relinquished most of their interests in Morocco, retaining only a small number of cities and territories.
Mohammed's son, Hassan II, succeeded his father in 1961 and drew up a royal charter, which proposed the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, subject to approval by referendum. In 1963 the first Moroccan general elections were held, but parliamentary democracy proved unworkable and collapsed in November 1963. King Hassan suspended Parliament and ruled without it for seven years, serving for two of those years as his own prime minister.
During the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict, Hassan strongly supported the Arab cause but, despite this, attempts were made on his life in 1971 and 1972. Both attempts failed and the would-be assassins were executed. However, during the 1970s, rumours of corruption in high places within the Moroccan government were becoming impossible to ignore, and King Hassan made a bid to rally support for the monarchy by putting pressure on Spain to relinquish its interests in the Sahara.
Morocco embarked on a campaign during 1974 aimed at forcing Spain to withdraw from the Western region of the Sahara, an area rich in phosphates. Morocco's claim for full sovereignty over the region during 1975 was rejected. However, The International Court of Justice, meeting in The Hague in Morocco ignored this decision and resolved to continue the fight alone, organising a massive demonstration known as the Green March. Spain entered into secret negotiations and a deal was struck, whereby the region was divided into three, and administered by Morocco, Spain and Mauritania.
A Saharan nationalist movement, known as the Polisario Front vehemently disputed Morocco's right to the territory and guerrilla fighting ensued. By 1978, the Polisaro Front succeeded in forcing Mauritania to relinquish its Saharan interests, but was unable to do the same with Morocco.
The United Nations continued to mediate in this dispute throughout the eighties, and by 1990 a referendum proposed self-determination by both sides. Although this was formally accepted by those concerned, Morocco continues to assert its claim for full control over the Moroccan Sahara. Attempted coups have highlighted Morocco's internal problems.
On Friday 23 July 1999, King Hassan II of Morocco was pronounced dead following heart failure at the age of 70. The death of King Hassan II marked an end of an era not only for Morocco, but for the whole Arabic and Islamic world, as he was one of the longest serving monarchs in the modern history of the Arab World, ruling for more than 38 years.
King Hassanss eldest son, Crown Prince Mohammed was announced as the new King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, making the 35 year old monarch the 18th king in the Alawite dynasty.
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Geography
Morocco is located on the north-eastern corner of the African Continent with boundaries to the Atlantic Ocean on the west coast and the Mediterranean Sea to the north coast. Algeria is Moroccos eastern and south eastern neighbour and the Moroccan Sahara extends to the far south. Morocco has an area of 446,550 square kilometres.
Morocco has four distinct geographic regions:
- The Rif Mountains in the north which rise as high as 2,440 metres, running parallel the Mediterranean coast.
- The Atlas Mountains extend across the country from the southwest to the northeast between the Atlantic Ocean and the Rif mountains. The highest mountain in North Africa is Jebel Toubkal (4165 metres), located in the Great Atlas mountain region.
- An arc of wide coastal plains extend along the country's western seaboard, bounded by the Rif and Atlas mountain ranges. Most Moroccans inhabit this region.
- The lowlands south of the Atlas Mountains merge with the Sahara along the south-eastern borders of the country.
Morocco has many rivers; the two main ones are the Moulouya, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Sebou, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The mountainous regions of Morocco contain extensive areas of forest, including large stands of cork oak, evergreen oak, juniper, cedar, fir, and pine. Except for areas under cultivation, the plains are usually covered with scrub brush and Alfa grass.
On the plain of Sous, near the southern border, there is the large forest of Argan which contains mostly thorny trees found mostly in Morocco.
Morocco is still principally an agrarian society but mineral resources, including phosphates, iron, lead, manganese, silver, tin, zinc, coal and petroleum are also mined.
Morocco has a rich diversity of wildlife including gazelle, wild boar, panther, wild goat, baboon, fox, rabbit, otter, squirrel and horned viper.
Moroccan wildlife unusually represents a mixture of European and African species.
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Climate
The climate of Morocco is hugely diverse due to the topography and proximity of the seas.
The Moroccan coastal climate is moderate and subtropical and the coastal areas have the benefit of being cooled by the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The average temperature hovers at around 20 degrees C; nevertheless maximum temperatures can be much higher.
The internal areas can be very hot during the summer months. However temperatures in the mountain ranges can be subzero throughout the year. The mountain peaks of the Atlas and Rif mountains can be snow capped for most of the year.
Winter in the north of the country tends to be temperate but often wet and rainy. Winter to the south of Morocco near the edge of the Moroccan Sahara is arid but often very cold.
The weather in Marrakech is sunny nearly all year round, with pleasantly warm summers and mild winters. The hottest months of the year are July, August and September, but there is no humidity so temperatures are generally bearable. Winter can bring heavy downpours of rain, which leave the streets of the old town very muddy, and winter nights can be cold.
Fez has a continental climate with extreme temperatures. In summer the temperature can reach a maximum 45 degrees C, so a more pleasant time to visit would be during spring and autumn, when the weather is warm and dry. Winters, by contrast, are very cold.
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Culture & People
Approximately 75% of the population speak Arabic which is the Moroccan official language.
French is probably the second language especially among the urban educated classes. However, Spanish is spoken as a second language by many residents in northern cities like Tangier, Tetuan and Larache.
The various Berber dialects are still spoken in rural areas but this is declining. The Berber language, which was once dominant throughout Morocco, during the early 1990's, approximately 25 percent of the people used Berber as their first language. Many of those people also spoke Arabic as a second language but Arabic is now more popular than Berber.
Morocco is the most western of the African Countries, the French and Spanish heritage is evident in the architecture, the food, the arts and the music. Tangier, which was an international independent port until Moroccan independence in 1956, has always been the gateway to Europe. These influences make Moroccan culture extremely varied with artistic expression benefitting from the colourful inputs of many different backgrounds.
Morocco claims the worlds oldest university, which was founded in Fez in 859 AD. It is acknowledged that the Arabs were responsible for a great part of the development of Mathematics and algebra is an Arabic word. Pope Sylvester the II is said to have learned Mathematics at the University of Fez, 100 years before the first European University was found in Bologna.
The original inhabitants of Morocco were the Berbers who, today, represent 60 per cent of the population; the Berber traditions are still being kept alive. There is even a Marriage Festival at the end of September when the tribes from the Atlas Mountains meet and men and women from different clans get to know each other while families discuss dowries. The Berbers live in the villages of the Atlas and Rif Mountains, whilst the Arabs have generally taken to the cities and coastal areas, where there is a separate culture and tradition.
Moroccan people are traditionally very friendly and Tourism is thriving, visitors are usually given a very warm welcome.
The market culture is very prominent with daily and weekly markets present almost everywhere. The souks, covered and open-air markets sell just about everything imaginable, they are usually located in the older city quarters or in town squares. They are a meeting point for the city folk and the farmers from the villages. Moroccans are masters at bartering and price negotiations can be very entertaining.
Moroccan people do not drink alcohol due to their Islamic faith and bars are rare except perhaps some of the hotels. However coffee houses are very popular and host most of social gatherings in the cities. It is not unusual to be invited to drink a mint tea, the Moroccan national drink, as an offering of friendship.
Traditionally men go out whilst the women remain in their homes. Moroccan men tend to socialize in cafes and the women entertain at home, or in the Hammans, which are public steam baths where women are free to socialize with people from the same sex. Moroccan women are very reserved and are careful not to attract any attention. Many western women with their outward friendly behaviour often fall victim to unwanted proposals or unexpected comments due to cultural differences.
Moroccan people are very expressive particularly with a variety of art forms, ranging from making jewellery, wood carving, painting, textile and carpet design to music. Music is played just about everywhere in Morocco with groups playing in market places or in cafes in the evening, especially during Ramadan. The National Festival for Sacred Music takes place in Fez at the end of May.
The most popular music expression is the muezzin, the music that gathers the worshippers to pray from the minaret tops. Moroccan folklore music has evolved from both Arab and Andalucia traditions. Berber music is the traditional expressed by the villagers in the mountains who gather to sing and dance together at times of religious celebrations and for rituals connected with nature and other important moments in life such as marriage.
Morocco's varied geology and rich mineral deposits make the country one of the world's largest exporters of phosphates. They have also inspired the production of traditional ceramic tiles and pottery, this traditional and famous Moroccan craft industry is still thriving.
Today, Fez is one of the most intriguing cities of the Islamic world, celebrated for its prolific output of hand-crafted items; pottery, leather goods, woollen carpets, carved wood, and gold, brass and silver objects. Fez is situated in a steep-sided valley and its geological setting provides the basic materials for its ceramics industry.
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Morocco for Investors
Why Invest in Property
Morocco is generally considered to be a stable country and perhaps safer than investing in the sometimes volatile stock market.
Property has, for the best part been considered to be a safe investment but there are many factors to consider. We are not investment experts but we can provide you with some reasons to invest in the Moroccan property market.
Almost no investment, other than property, offers the stability and security, as well as the excellent return offered by investing in property. Investing in the stock market can offer high returns but it can also be very dangerous, especially if you are not an expert or professional, because there are too many risk factors outside of the Investors control.
In recent years it is acknowledged generally that most stock markets have been under-performing whilst most property markets have shown good returns. This has been proven over long historical periods in most areas of property investment.
Advantages of Investing in Property:
Property has always increased in value, usually far in excess of the inflation rate.
Buying property enables the investor to secure borrowing which can then be used to increase the magnitude of an investment; this cannot be said of most other types of investment.
Rental Income from the property can then be used repay the loan which in time also increases the value of the investment. As property prices increase, so to does the investment and the increased equity can therefore be used to secure more funds and increase investments in property.
It could be said that property prices do go down, and this does sometimes happen in the short term but history has shown that property prices always recover and for the best part, substantial increases are evident.
If you own property which has increased in value, or the loan is diminished you can release equity against your property. Many buy to let investors have successfully used their borrowing ability to increase their property investments and generate substantial wealth for themselves.
Whilst there can be no guarantee that property prices will increase over say, a one year period it is generally accepted that a well maintained property in a reasonable area will appreciate in value.
People have also increased their gains by investing in up and coming areas or by making improvements to properties. One does not have to be a major property developer benefit from this type of gain.
The following statistics make interesting reading:
- 50 per cent of individuals mentioned on The Sunday Times Rich List made their money through investing in property.
- A property worth just 10,000 Euros some 30 years ago would be today worth around half a million Euros.
- Between 5th October and 6th November 1987 the FTSE share index fell by a massive 32.1%. (Published Bank of England Statistics)
Whatever type of investor you are, property should always be the best long term investment. It you are a buy to let investor you can focus the mind on buying a property as a money making vehicle and concentrate on generating a reliable rental income as well as capital appreciation.
If you are purchasing that place in the sun you can still benefit from the same investment opportunities but perhaps with the advantage of an enhanced income from holiday letting.
There are always opportunities for the solo investor in the property market!
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Why Invest in Property in Morocco
Morocco is a somewhat unique location for the property investor, perhaps because it is an emerging market, currently with very favourable prices compared to other locations.
Tourism is growing at a fast rate which is also a major factor on the affect of property prices. Some Buy to Let investors are reporting very high letting occupancy rates due to the high volume of tourists.
Morocco offers the investor an opportunity to purchase property in newly developing tourist areas, perhaps somewhat like Spain was 30 years ago.
Morocco has a stable economy and is acknowledged to be one of the safer places to invest in the emerging property markets.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the UAE have allocated a huge investment to drastically increasing tourism further, with a goal of 10 million per year by 2010.
This investment will be used to improve the already flourishing infrastructure and increase tourism by 10 million visitors per year.
New roads, train links, marinas, 5 star resorts with golf complexes, shopping malls and beach clubs are already being constructed. Major International Property Developers are also investing in some of these facilities for profit.
This investment along with the creation of several tax advantages should also helps investors to feel comfortable in investing in property for sale in Morocco.
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Reasons why Morocco is an Intelligent Property Investment
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Morocco is such a stunning location with so many sites to see, from bustling Medinas and ancient Cities and from golden sandy beaches to snow capped mountains. Visitors can experience Moorish culture at its best
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The climate is hard to beat around the coastal areas. Dry summers and temperate winters.
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Morocco adopted an Open Skies policy activated during 2006 which allows low cost airlines to service Morocco and create competition, which will in turn lower fares.
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The inevitable increase in tourism will generated a huge requirement for rented accommodation. This is not only for tourists but also for people working in the tourist industry.
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Tourists are very likely to return to Morocco because of the wide variety of attractions offered and the very fine climate.
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Morocco has an unrestricted market economy and allows free movement of money.
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Morocco is relatively safe investment because property registration is supervised by a Notary, similar of other European countries, e.g. Spain.
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The English, French and Spanish languages are widely spoken, as well as Arabic of course.
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The Costa del Sol is only 30 minutes away by hydrofoil from Tangiers.
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Many new residential and commercial developments are now being constructed by major players. Some of these developments are resort complexes offering magnificent golf courses, tennis clubs, riding clubs, water skiing, sailing, scuba diving, hunting, hiking, and camel treks.
Please note we are currently marketing some property for sale in Morocco on exclusive private developments and these can be viewed on our website.
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Expedia Property has entered the Morocco Property market, as you will see we have a good selection of Moroccan Property for sale on both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. We have a good selection of Property in Morocco on our website and the selection is fast growing. Please feel free to search for Apartments or Villas in Morocco, we also have some Moroccan off plan investment opportunities which are ver popular. |
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