Morocco Property Investment Opportunities. Real Estate Morocco.

£86,000 / $135,000 *

New Developments in Morocco

Morocco is in North Africa just across the Straits of Gibraltar from southern Spain and west of Algeria, with its western coast on the Atlantic. It is mainly desert in the south with more fertile lands near the coasts and is divided diagonally from north to south by the Atlas Mountain range, where in winter – surprisingly in this country of Africa – tourists can enjoy downhill or cross-country skiing on the high slopes in places such as Oukaimeden (46 miles south of Marrakech), or Mischliffen (6 miles from Ifrane). Tourism is the third largest source of revenue for this liberal economy, with over 3 million visitors per year generating over 1½ billion dollars, and there is much else for visitors to enjoy in this country of contrasts, with over twenty golf clubs (including those at Marrakech and Rabat built by golfing legend Robert Trent Jones), exciting and exotic souks (markets), beautiful beaches, vast deserts and ancient cities full of history and culture, such as the capital, Rabat, with its mosques and ruins, or the largest city, Casablanca, where the economic and industrial sectors are based and which has one of the largest artificial ports in the world, or the exotic Marrakech and Tangier.

The culture is incredibly diverse, with Berber, Spanish, Moorish, Jewish, Turkish, African and Middle Eastern influences – not least where the food is concerned: rich spices, stews and soups, and wonderful pastries made with almonds and honey. The Arab music is heavily influenced by nearby Andalucia and by Berber folk music and there is a rich literary tradition, with a great library in Algiers founded by an 11th century Caliph. The 33¼ million-strong population is friendly and welcoming to tourists and also to the 100,000 mostly French or Spanish residents, many of whom are teachers, technicians or retirees.

French remains Morocco's unofficial second language after Arabic and is the main language of commerce and economics, also widely used in education and government, while English is rapidly becoming the third foreign language of choice among the young, being taught in public schools from fourth year upwards. Many in the north also speak Spanish. There is great potential for development, particularly with the construction of the Marrakech-Agadir motorway now underway and the upgrade of the oil refinery south of Rabat

Foreign nationals may invest freely in all sectors, without needing authorisation. Morocco has Free Trade Agreements with the US and EU (from 2010) and the support of the IMF and World Bank and keeps inflation in line with other industrial countries. It is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a prime minister, two chambers, an independent judiciary and decentralised regional administration of 16 regions and 37 provinces.

• Official Language: Arabic, French
• Currency: Moroccan Dirham
• View Morocco on the World Map

New Developments in Morocco

Morocco Property     * currency exchange rates subject to fluctuation.