As Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, the country has undertaken an infrastructure development campaign, investing heavily in rail, roads, power, and other facilities across nearly 35 cities. The construction spree, expected to cost upwards of $34 billion over the next five years, will lay the groundwork for a successful World Cup and broader national development.
According to a government report, projects will not be confined to the cities hosting the games but will spread across the country. Nizar Baraka, Morocco's Minister of Equipment and Water, confirmed that the infrastructure upgrades cover various sectors, including transport, power, and urban development. The Transport Ministry has pledged a significant boost in spending, with a reported 42 per cent annual increase in investments until 2030. Projections suggest that 2025 investments could reach 64 billion Moroccan dirhams ($6.5 billion), a sharp rise from previous levels.
One of the most ambitious elements of this development is the expansion of Morocco's rail network, which the transport minister described as the largest rail initiative in the country's history. The government has allocated approximately MAD 85 billion ($8.6 billion) for these rail projects, which include high-speed and electrical trains. By the end of 2030, rail capacity will increase from 53 million passengers in 2024 to nearly double that amount.
Additionally, significant investments will be made in airport infrastructure, with around MAD 42 billion ($4.2 billion) earmarked for modernising and expanding key airports, including Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh, and Tangier. Casablanca's airport will be upgraded to handle 44 million passengers annually, while Rabat-Sale will see the construction of a new terminal with a capacity for 4 million passengers.
