Casablanca – Morocco created 42,905 new businesses during the first five months of 2026, reflecting continued entrepreneurial activity and a growing preference among founders for establishing incorporated companies, according to the latest data published by the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC).

The figures show that legal entities continued to dominate new business registrations, accounting for 75% of all companies established between January and May, compared with 71% during the same period in 2025. The increase indicates that entrepreneurs are increasingly opting for corporate structures that offer greater legal and operational flexibility, while individual businesses continue to represent a significant share of new registrations.

OMPIC’s latest statistics also point to a continued concentration of business creation in Morocco’s main economic centers, led by the Casablanca-Settat region, while trade, construction and services remained the primary sectors attracting new investment.

The data illustrate the resilience of Morocco’s entrepreneurial ecosystem despite a global economic environment marked by slower growth, elevated financing costs in many markets and persistent geopolitical uncertainty affecting international trade.

Among incorporated businesses, the single-member limited liability company (SARL AU) remained the preferred legal structure for entrepreneurs. This form represented 65.5% of all newly registered legal entities during the first five months of the year, confirming its position as the dominant corporate model for small and medium-sized businesses.

The traditional limited liability company (SARL) ranked second, accounting for 33.6% of registrations among legal entities. Together, these two legal forms represented virtually all newly incorporated companies, reflecting the continued popularity of limited liability structures among Moroccan entrepreneurs.

The predominance of these legal structures suggests that founders continue to favor business models that combine operational flexibility with legal protection for shareholders, particularly as more startups and small enterprises seek access to financing and formal commercial relationships.

Regionally, Casablanca-Settat remained Morocco’s leading center for business creation. The region accounted for 39.3% of all newly registered legal entities, reinforcing its position as the country’s principal economic and financial hub.

Rabat-Salé-Kénitra ranked second with 14.3% of registrations, followed by Marrakech-Safi with 12.8% and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima with 10.4%.

Combined, these four regions represented 76.8% of all newly incorporated companies recorded in Morocco’s commercial register during the January-May period, highlighting the continued concentration of entrepreneurial activity in the country’s largest urban and industrial centers.

The regional distribution reflects the economic weight of these areas, which host major industrial zones, logistics infrastructure, financial institutions, administrative centers and expanding technology and services sectors.

The pattern differs, however, for individually owned businesses.

Among sole proprietorships and other individual enterprises, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima recorded the highest share of registrations, accounting for 21.1% of all new individual businesses. Casablanca-Settat followed with 13.4%, while the Oriental region ranked third with 10.7%.

The figures suggest that entrepreneurship based on individual ownership remains particularly active in northern Morocco, where commercial activity, tourism, logistics and cross-border trade continue to support the creation of small businesses.

Sectoral data show that trade continued to dominate business creation during the first five months of 2026.

Commercial activities represented 27.6% of all newly established legal entities, maintaining their position as the largest segment of Morocco’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Construction, public works and real estate activities accounted for 25.2% of registrations, making them the second-largest category. Continued investment in housing, infrastructure, transport networks and industrial development has supported sustained demand for companies operating in these sectors.

Various service activities represented 19.6% of newly created businesses, reflecting continued expansion across professional, administrative, consulting and business support services.

Transportation accounted for 7.7% of new companies, while manufacturing represented 6.3%, illustrating ongoing investment in logistics and industrial production as Morocco continues to strengthen its position as a regional manufacturing and export platform.

The remaining registrations were distributed across other economic activities, including hospitality, agriculture and specialized professional services.

OMPIC also reported issuing 56,618 negative certificates between January and May 2026.

A negative certificate confirms that a proposed business name is available for registration and is one of the mandatory administrative steps before a company can be formally incorporated. The volume of certificates issued is generally viewed as an early indicator of entrepreneurial intentions because entrepreneurs typically obtain the document before completing the registration process.

The level of certificates issued during the first five months of the year suggests that interest in launching new businesses remained solid, supporting expectations for continued business formation throughout 2026.

The latest figures come as Morocco continues implementing reforms aimed at improving the business environment, expanding digital public services and encouraging private investment. Recent efforts to simplify administrative procedures, promote entrepreneurship and facilitate company registration have been part of broader initiatives designed to strengthen the private sector’s contribution to economic growth and job creation.

Business creation has increasingly become an important indicator of Morocco’s economic diversification strategy, with policymakers seeking to encourage investment across manufacturing, technology, services, renewable energy and export-oriented industries.

While Casablanca-Settat continues to account for the largest share of newly established companies, the data also point to sustained entrepreneurial activity across other regions, reflecting broader economic development beyond the country’s traditional business centers.

The combination of rising company incorporations, continued demand for commercial registrations and the growing share of legal entities indicates that Morocco’s formal business sector maintained positive momentum during the opening months of 2026, with entrepreneurs continuing to establish new ventures across a broad range of industries and regions.