Casablanca, August 6, 2026 – The Europe Today: More than 2.74 million Moroccans living abroad have returned to Morocco since the launch of Operation Marhaba 2026, reflecting the continued success of the annual initiative facilitating the summer return of expatriate citizens, according to the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity.
Speaking on the Radio Tanger Med programme Obour, Omar Moussa Abdellah, project manager at the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and supervisor of Operation Marhaba, said that 2,741,570 Moroccans residing abroad had entered the Kingdom as of August 3, representing a 0.45 percent increase compared to the corresponding period last year.
Sea transport remained the primary mode of travel, accounting for 1,430,811 arrivals, or 52.19 percent of the total. Tangier Med Port handled the highest passenger volume, welcoming 512,693 travelers, equivalent to 35.89 percent of all maritime arrivals. It was followed by the ports of Nador, which received 200,013 passengers, and Tangier City, with 168,240 arrivals.
Air travel also recorded strong traffic, with 1,310,759 passengers arriving through Moroccan airports. Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca ranked first, handling 333,490 passengers, or 25.44 percent of all air arrivals. Marrakech Menara Airport welcomed 225,086 travelers, while Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport received 167,147 passengers. Nador Airport and Rabat-Salé Airport handled 119,487 and 119,452 passengers, respectively.
The number of vehicles entering Morocco reached 287,518 by August 3, marking a 12.43 percent decline compared to the same period in 2025. Omar Moussa Abdellah attributed the decrease to rising travel costs, noting that many Moroccans residing abroad opted to travel together rather than using multiple vehicles.
He said all institutions participating in the first phase of Operation Marhaba remain fully mobilized to ensure efficient travel conditions and quality services for Moroccans returning to visit their families and spend their holidays in the Kingdom.
Jaafar Ameyer, Central Director of Tangier Med Port, said August 2 was among the busiest days of the operation, with a record 31,917 passengers and 8,612 vehicles passing through the port. The figures represented increases of 4 percent in passenger traffic and 5 percent in vehicle movements compared with the same day last year.
Despite the exceptionally high volume of travelers, Ameyer noted that the average time required to exit the port remained under 15 minutes, thanks to coordinated efforts by Morocco’s National Police and Customs authorities.
To further facilitate passenger movement, Tangier Med has introduced an additional fast ferry service and implemented ticket interchangeability among ferry operators. For the return phase of Operation Marhaba, passengers will travel using fixed-date and fixed-time tickets to improve traffic management and reduce congestion.
Authorities have also advised travelers to plan their journeys in advance, ensure their return tickets include confirmed departure dates and times, and stay informed about travel conditions to help minimize waiting times during the peak summer travel season.
