Morocco has experienced a dramatic increase in construction projects approved in rural areas, with a 600% rise following an agreement between the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Interior in 2023.
Minister of Urban Development, and Housing, Fatima Zahra Mansouri, announced the figure during a parliamentary oral questions session on Monday. She explained that authorities approved 847 construction projects following the evaluation of 1,792 applications.
“This is a significant improvement compared to previous periods,” Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) quoted Mansouri as saying. The minister noted that these efforts have yielded positive results nationwide, identifying 3,166 villages spanning a total of 78,000 hectares and benefiting 1.45 million residents. The figure represents a 224% increase in defined rural zones.
Despite the progress, Mansouri acknowledged persistent issues. She cited land ownership issues and lack of proper documentation as the primary obstacles preventing urban agencies and local authorities from granting construction permits.
To address these barriers, the minister pointed out Draft Law 90/12 on urban planning. “This legislation is currently under consultation with stakeholders,” she said, adding that a proposed law for urban agencies includes a specialized section focused on rural areas.