Casablanca – Morocco is set to significantly strengthen its maritime and logistics infrastructure with the launch of two major deepwater ports, reflecting the kingdom’s ambition to become a leading regional hub for trade, energy, and industry. Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka confirmed that Nador West Med, on the Mediterranean coast, is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2026, while the Atlantic port in Dakhla is expected to be operational by 2028.

Nador West Med: a Mediterranean gateway

Nador West Med represents one of Morocco’s largest strategic infrastructure projects in recent years. The port will initially occupy 800 hectares dedicated to industrial activities, with plans to expand to 5,000 hectares—surpassing the industrial zones linked to Tanger Med. Its container capacity is projected at 5.5 million units, placing it among the major Mediterranean ports. The port will also feature storage for 25 million tons of hydrocarbons, making it the largest facility in Morocco in this sector.

A key component of the project is Morocco’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, incorporating a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) with a capacity of 175,000 cubic meters, scheduled to come online in 2027. This infrastructure will connect to industrial hubs in the northwest via pipelines, supporting Morocco’s strategy to diversify its energy mix and gradually reduce reliance on coal and traditional fuels.

The project, initially funded with $4.12 billion in public investment, is expected to attract private investments of a similar scale, bringing total funding to around $8.25 billion. Marsa Maroc, in partnership with MSC, will operate the port’s 60-hectare container terminal. Beyond its industrial and energy functions, Nador West Med is part of a broader development plan to revitalize eastern Morocco and attract large-scale industrial and logistics projects.

Dakhla Atlantic: Morocco’s deepest port

Further south, the Dakhla Atlantic port is being developed as Morocco’s deepest port, with a depth of 23 meters. Scheduled to open in 2028 with an estimated cost of $1.4 billion, the port will include 1,600 hectares of industrial land and 5,200 hectares of farmland irrigated using desalinated seawater. Its depth and capacity will allow it to accommodate very large vessels and host heavy industries focused on processing raw materials from Sahel countries. Authorities present Dakhla as a strategic maritime gateway for landlocked nations in the region, aiming to boost trade and economic integration with West Africa.

Like Nador West Med, Dakhla will include dedicated berths for exporting green hydrogen, underscoring Morocco’s goal of becoming a regional clean-energy hub. Together with Tanger Med and Jorf Lasfar, these ports will form the kingdom’s four deepwater ports, further consolidating Morocco’s position in global logistics.

Building on Tanger Med’s success

Tanger Med’s industrial zones already host 1,400 companies and employ 130,000 workers across automotive, aerospace, textiles, agri-food, and renewable energy sectors. Morocco seeks to replicate this success at Nador and Dakhla, leveraging its geographic advantages and infrastructure investments to attract industrial and logistics development.

In parallel, authorities are studying the possibility of a new port in Tan-Tan, on the Atlantic coast, in collaboration with investors specialized in green hydrogen. Studies are ongoing to determine the appropriate scale of the project.

Strategic implications

With these initiatives, Morocco is positioning itself as a major logistics, energy, and industrial hub linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The combined impact of Nador West Med and Dakhla is expected to reshape maritime trade in the region, strengthen the kingdom’s energy security, and attract significant industrial investment, reflecting Morocco’s long-term vision of economic diversification and regional influence.