The port city of Agadir is pushing forward with an ambitious urban development programme as it prepares to host tourists for two major global sporting events. The city's Adrar stadium, which can seat 45,480, is undergoing extensive renovation in readiness for the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON in December. The stadium is also set to host matches during the 2030 FIFA World Cup - alongside five other stadiums in Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, Rabat and Fez.
The World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain, is expected to generate a substantial economic uplift, benefiting sectors such as infrastructure, tourism, transport, and retail. Some 5bn is expected to be spent in Morocco on infrastructure alone. Agadir - which is the administrative centre of Morocco's Souss Massa region - is one of the Moroccan cities that are already undertaking massive infrastructure upgrades to deal with the influx of international visitors expected during the football competition. Besides the renovation of the Adrar stadium, new investments have been made in training facilities, transportation networks, and accommodation expansion.
"There are opportunities in tourism, and jobs are being created in construction, and many other sectors. The momentum is there," Rachid Boukhenfer, vice president in charge of economic development at Souss Massa's regional council, tells African Business . He argues that preparations for AFCON and the World Cup have spurred fresh investments from both the public and private sector. "The Agadir airport is among those in the kingdom slated for expansion to accommodate the expected surge in international visitors," he says.
Boukhenfer singles out tourism as a particularly promising sector. "We are allocating significant resources to strengthen air connectivity and upgrade existing tourism infrastructure, especially hotels and related economic infrastructure."
"We are diversifying our tourist attractions to enhance visitor experiences. This includes promoting niche activities like cultural tourism, water sports - especially surfing - golf, and services targeting digital nomads."