Over 2. 74 Million Moroccans Abroad Return Home Under Operation Marhaba 2026 - The Europe Today
Casablanca, August 6, 2026 – The Europe Today: More than2. 74 million Moroccans living abroadhave returned to Morocco since the launch ofOperation Marhaba 2026, reflecting the continued success of the annual. . .
Casablanca, August 6, 2026 – The Europe Today: More than2. 74 million Moroccans living abroadhave returned to Morocco since the launch ofOperation Marhaba 2026, reflecting the continued success of the annual initiative facilitating the summer return of expatriate citizens, according to the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity. Speaking on theRadio Tanger MedprogrammeObour, Omar Moussa Abdellah, project manager at the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and supervisor of Operation Marhaba, said that2,741,570 Moroccans residing abroadhad entered the Kingdom as ofAugust 3, representing a0. 45 percent increasecompared to the corresponding period last year. Sea transport remained the primary mode of travel, accounting for1,430,811 arrivals, or52. 19 percentof the total. Tangier Med Porthandled the highest passenger volume, welcoming512,693 travelers, equivalent to35. 89 percentof all maritime arrivals. It was followed by the ports ofNador, which received200,013 passengers, andTangier City, with168,240 arrivals. Air travel also recorded strong traffic, with1,310,759 passengersarriving through Moroccan airports. Mohammed V International Airportin Casablanca ranked first, handling333,490 passengers, or25. 44 percentof all air arrivals. Marrakech Menara Airportwelcomed225,086 travelers, whileTangier Ibn Battouta Airportreceived167,147 passengers. Nador AirportandRabat-Salé Airporthandled119,487and119,452 passengers, respectively. The number of vehicles entering Morocco reached287,518by August 3, marking a12. 43 percent declinecompared to the same period in 2025. Omar Moussa Abdellah attributed the decrease to rising travel costs, noting that many Moroccans residing abroad opted to travel together rather than using multiple vehicles. He said all institutions participating in the first phase of Operation Marhaba remain fully mobilized to ensure efficient travel conditions and quality services for Moroccans returning to visit their families and spend their holidays in the Kingdom. Jaafar Ameyer, Central Director ofTangier Med Port, saidAugust 2was among the busiest days of the operation, with a record31,917 passengersand8,612 vehiclespassing through the port. The figures represented increases of4 percentin passenger traffic and5 percentin vehicle movements compared with the same day last year. Despite the exceptionally high volume of travelers, Ameyer noted that the average time required to exit the port remained under15 minutes, thanks to coordinated efforts by Morocco’s National Police and Customs authorities. To further facilitate passenger movement, Tangier Med has introduced an additional fast ferry service and implemented ticket interchangeability among ferry operators. For the return phase of Operation Marhaba, passengers will travel using fixed-date and fixed-time tickets to improve traffic management and reduce congestion. Authorities have also advised travelers to plan their journeys in advance, ensure their return tickets include confirmed departure dates and times, and stay informed about travel conditions to help minimize waiting times during the peak summer travel season.