Casablanca (Marrakesh, Morocco)

Casablanca (port locode MACAS) is Morocco's principal/largest port and city, with population over 3,36 million (metro over 2,3 million). This is also Morocco's biggest industrial center. Port Casablanca is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the world's largest man-made ports. This is also the cruise port to Marrakesh/Marrakech (Morocco's 4th-largest city and Marrakesh-Safi region's capital).

In 2023, Casablanca Cruise Port underwent an infrastructure development. By the EUR 60 million project was constructed a new cruise ship dock/pier, a new cruise terminal and a maritime station. Now the cruise port can accommodate the world's largest cruise ships (with max LOA length 350 m/1148 ft) and has an annual capacity to handle max 400,000 tourists.

In April 2024, GPH/Global Ports Holding Plc (2003-founded, UK-based corporation ranked the world's largest cruise port management company), through its consortium (a joint venture of GPH and Steya & Ocean Infrastructures Management Co), was awarded the preferred bidder for the 15-year concession of Casablanca Cruise Port's new terminal.

The consortium (in which GPH has 51% stake) and ANP (Agence Nationale des Ports/Morocco's National Ports Agency) signed the concession agreement in October 2025, with operations beginning in January 2026. The new cruise terminal was inaugurated on September 18th, 2025. ANP invested ~EUR 72 million in the terminal infrastructure development.

Even though it has a history going back several centuries and was colonized by the Portuguese until 1755, it declined insignificantly by the mid-1880s. The Renaissance came with the French protectorate under the first resident general, Lyautey. He decided to establish Casablanca as the administrative center of the new protectorate. Lyautey gave Casablanca its public parks, fountains, wide boulevards, and imposing Mauresque civic buildings. Don't miss the Hassan II Mosque, gleaming, white medium high-rise 1930s architecture, many Art-Deco touches, and pedestrian precincts thronged with fashion-conscious young people. From here, tourists can visit the Imperial City of Rabat, and the fantastic Marrakech is within reach.

Casablanca is the most cosmopolitan of Morocco's cities, with a palpably French mood, but reflecting the paradox at Morocco's heart - its unique fusion of modern and ancient, of Arabia, Africa and Europe. The beguiling Casablanca of Bogart and Bergman may be no more, but you'll still find endless enigmas here amid vibrant bazaars and busy boulevards.

Casablanca cruise terminal