Morocco: Dakhla Enjoys Economic Boom With More Investments And Tourists – OpEd

Dakhla, a dynamic city in Morocco, has been emerging as an investment hub as well as a major tourist destination in recent years. It is the capital city of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region. There are 12 regions in Morocco.

Dakhla is situated in Western Sahara or Moroccan Sahara.

Covering 18.4 percent of the Morocco’s total area, Dakhla-Oued Eddahab occupies a strategic location in the south, acting as a bridge between Morocco and Europe via the Atlantic Ocean, and Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa through Mauritania. A number of natural resources can be found in the region, including phosphates, salt and sand.

The Dakhla region, which has a population of 200,000, is one of the most promising economic hotspots in Africa for businesses seeking to strengthen commercial ties between Europe and West Africa. It is strategically located connecting Africa and Europe.

Dakhla’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 was 86,166 Moroccan dirhams, more than the double of national average of Dh 32,394. It’s unemployment rate is much lower than national unemployment. Productivity is very high in Dakhla region.

The region occupies a highly strategic position in the Atlantic, with one of Africa’s future largest ports linking Dakhla to the Americas, Europe, and Africa, while taking advantage of various free trade agreements concluded by Morocco.

In addition to its undeniable potential in renewable energies, green hydrogen, and sustainable agriculture, Dakhla is a ground for innovation and technology, poised to become a technology valley in the near future.

Dakhla has made a significant investment in infrastructure in roads, ports, energy, airports, industrial areas for all sectors for both agriculture and livestock, fisheries, tourism, renewable energy and logistics.

According to Vice President of the Dakhla-Qued Eddahab regional council Battal Lambarki, Dakhla has been building several mega projects like Dakhla Atlantic Port, 1,055 kilometers Tiznit-Laayoune-Dakhla express way, 580 megawatt Noor Ouarzazate solar project, wind park, Western Africa logistic zone and industry zones.

“No development without peace,” Lambarki said.

In the Moroccan Sahara there is a total stability, there is no conflict whatsoever, Saharawis have coexistence between all members of the region.

El Khattat Yanja, President of the Council of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, said that the region’s significant development across all sectors, attributing it to the implementation of an integrated development program inspired by the New Model of Development of the Southern Provinces.

Yanja emphasized the authorities’ commitment to enhancing the region’s attractiveness for both national and foreign investments, citing projects like the Dakhla Atlantic Port as catalysts for economic growth and positioning the region as a vital logistics hub for the Sahel and West African countries.

The region occupies a highly strategic position in the Atlantic, with one of Africa’s future largest ports linking Dakhla to the Americas, Europe, and Africa, while taking advantage of various free trade agreements concluded by Morocco, he detailed.

In addition to its undeniable potential in renewable energies, green hydrogen, and sustainable agriculture, Dakhla is a ground for innovation and technology, poised to become a technology valley in the near future.

The Dakhla port is a part of the King Mohammed VI’s Atlantic Initiative. The main purpose of the port is to promote the access of the Sahel States to the Atlantic Ocean is a favourable framework to unify the efforts of the countries in the region and ensure multidimensional cooperation for a secure, prosperous and stable African continent. 

This initiative is part of King’s multiple initiatives towards Africa and aims to establish sustainable development and integration in the continent especially in the Sahel and Sahara region and will be of great benefit to all its countries and peoples. 

Dakhla has been attracting investments from several European countries like Spain, Britain and France as well as the United States.

Dakhla Regional Investment Centre acts as a one-stop-shop and has its main mission the facilitation of business creation, the promotion of investments and to help and assist investors in all administrative processes by using digital platforms that provide all the necessary information. 

The Regional Investment Centre of Dakhla plays an important role in accompanying investors throughout the administrative process, providing them with the necessary information on the various sectors and introducing them to the various tax and other incentives to help companies become more competitive and establish themselves in the region.  

Tourism is growing very fast in Dakhla. It attracts surfers, wind surfers and water sports enthusiasts from Europe due to its strong winds and favourable waves. In 2021, Dakhla organized the Kite-surf World Cup competition.

“Dakhla is presented as the first destination for water sports in Morocco and the fourth in the world. International competitions of the main water sports have been organised here with the presence of the highest international chains,” the Atalayar news website said. 

King Mohamed VI has advanced the new development model for the southern regions with a budget of more than $8 billion, of which $2.5 billion has been allocated to Dakhla for infrastructure renovation. 

Tourism is the second largest sector after fisheries and aquaculture. In an effort to promote tourism in Dakhla, the administration has been giving a special subsidy.

 “The administration of Dakhla is giving 50 percent discount in their air tickets to tourists,” Nabil Ameziane, an official from the Regional Investment Center of  Dakhla told this author in Dakhla recently.

There are so many flights from Marrakech and Casablanca to Dakhla daily. There are three flights from Paris to Dakhla every week.

In 2023, Dakhla received 235,000 tourists from Morocco and abroad.

According to Nabil, there will be a problem of workforce in the coming years. Because the fast growing economy in Dakhla needs more human resources.

Dakhla is much better in many aspects, compared to the Saharawi refugees living in Tindouf, Algeria. 

The King has introduced an autonomy proposal for Western Sahara in 2007 for broad autonomy for the southern territories under Moroccan sovereignty.  

More than 110 countries express support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as an efficient solution to the regional conflict over Western Sahara. 

The rebel group Polisario Front must think twice to accept the Moroccan autonomy plan and enjoy the benefits and end the conflict. There is no future for Polisario and its fighting.

Several countries like the U.S., France and Spain have recognized the sovereignty of Morocco over Moroccan Sahara. 

Another most important thing is that there are several consulates from 29 countries in Southern provinces, including 17 in Dhakla. It is a clear indication of international recognition of Moroccan Sahara.