Morocco

Following the success of Montaña Roja Real Estate as a leading Real Estate company we are shortly extending our portfolio to include Morocco.

The Kingdom of Morocco is a country in northwest Africa. It has many things to offer not least of which is the stunning natural beauty of the long Moroccan coastline stretching along the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. Morocco borders Algeria to the east, although the Algerian border is closed, the Western Sahara to the south, the Mediterranean Sea and Spain to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to its west.

The full Arabic name of the country translates to ‘The Western Kingdom’. Al Maghrib (meaning The West) is commonly used. For historical references, historians used to refer to Morocco as Al Maghrib al Aqşá (The Furthest West). The name Morocco in most other languages originates from the name of the former capital, Marrakech. Marrakech means in Berber "the land of God".

Morocco is the fourth most populous Arab country, after Egypt, Sudan and Algeria and is divided into several regions or provinces, each possessing its own individuality, contributing to the making of the national culture and the legacy of Morocco. Some of them, such as Agadir and Casablanca are fairly well known. Others, such as Al Hoceima and Khouribga are somewhat less visited by tourists and therefore lesser known. Morocco's capital city is Rabat, and its largest city is the main port of Casablanca. Other cities include Agadir, Essaouira, Fez, Marrakech, Meknes, Oujda, Ouarzazat, Safi, Tangier, Tiznit, Salè and Tan-Tan. Casablanca is the center of commerce and industry and the leading port; Rabat is the seat of government; Tangier is the gateway to Morocco from Spain and also a major port; Fez is the cultural and religious center; and the predominantly "Berber" Marrakech is a major tourist center. Morocco has set among its top priorities the protection of its legacy and the preservation of its cultural identity.

Most Moroccans are Sunni Muslims of Arab, Berber, or mixed Arab-Berber stock but Morocco's indigenous people are called the Berbers. The old name of Morocco was Mauretania and there have been several dynasties and kingdoms in Morocco before and after the rise of Islam.

Morocco is a land so intrinsically beautiful and rich with heritage that the moment you step foot on it you feel completely transported to another time and place. The landscapes vary from snow-laden slopes to pristine deserts. To the north, Morocco is bordered by and controls part of the Straits of Gibraltar, giving it power over the waterways in and out of the Mediterranean sea. Here you can enjoy the sand between your toes and the warm Moroccan breeze through your hair. Morocco has plenty of stunning stretches of beach for you to work on your tan or take a long walk on.

There are several fantastic mountain ranges in Morocco. You can climb, hike, ski and ride mules in the area. Regardless of what mode of transport you choose, you will more than likely be completely captivated by the amazing variety of foliage, natural water features and picturesque peaks.The Rif Mountains occupy the region bordering the Mediterranean from the north-west to the north-east. The Atlas Mountains run down the backbone of the country, from the south west to the north east, a range that insulates the country from the Sahara Desert. Most of the population lives to the north of these mountains, while to the south the Sahara desert takes up most of the south east portion of the country.

Morocco's official language is classical Arabic. The country's distinctive Arabic dialect is called Moroccan Arabic. Approximately 10 million (1 third of the population), mostly in rural areas, speak Berber, which exists in Morocco in three different dialects (Tarifit, Tashelhiyt, and Tamazight), either as a first language or bilingually with the spoken Arabic dialect. French, which remains Morocco's unofficial second language, is taught universally and still serves as Morocco's primary language of commerce and economics. It is also widely used in education and government. About 20,000 Moroccans in the northern part of the country speak Spanish as a second language in parallel with Tarifit. English, while still far behind French and Spanish in terms of number of speakers, is rapidly becoming the foreign language of choice among the educated youth.