Morocco's Administrative Regions
Understanding the 2015 Reform · Historical vs. Modern Divisions
🏛️ Key Distinction · Current vs. Historical Regions
📅 Current Administrative Regions (2015 Reform)
Since the 2015 regional reform, Morocco has been divided into 12 administrative regions. These are the official divisions used for governance, planning, and administration.
Each region has an elected regional council and is headed by a Wali (governor).
🏺 Historical & Geographical Regions
Names like Doukkala, Chaouia, Gharb, Haouz, Tafilalet, Abda, Souss refer to historical, cultural, or geographical areas — often based on tribal territories, fertile plains, or mountain ranges.
These names are not official administrative divisions today, but they remain widely used in conversation, agriculture, tourism, and local identity.
🗺️ The 12 Administrative Regions of Morocco (Since 2015)
| Region (English) | Capital | Includes (Historical Areas) |
|---|---|---|
| Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima | Tangier | Rif, Mediterranean coast |
| L'Oriental | Oujda | Eastern Morocco, Algerian border |
| Fès-Meknès | Fes | Imperial cities, Middle Atlas |
| Rabat-Salé-Kénitra | Rabat | Capital region, Gharb plain |
| Béni Mellal-Khénifra | Beni Mellal | Middle Atlas, Tadla plain |
| Casablanca-Settat | Casablanca | Economic capital, Doukkala, Chaouia, Abda |
| Marrakech-Safi | Marrakech | Red City, Al Haouz, Abda, coastal plains |
| Drâa-Tafilalet | Errachidia | Tafilalet oasis, Sahara gateway, Ziz Valley |
| Souss-Massa | Agadir | Souss Valley, Anti-Atlas, argan forests |
| Guelmim-Oued Noun | Guelmim | Gateway to the Sahara |
| Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra | Laâyoune | Western Sahara region |
| Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab | Dakhla | Southernmost region, Atlantic coast |
📍 Case Studies · Al Haouz, Doukkala, Tafilalet
🏔️ Al Haouz – Province (Not a Region)
Status: Province (not a region) within the Marrakech-Safi administrative region.
Capital: Tahannaout
Geography: Includes much of the High Atlas mountains, including Jbel Toubkal (North Africa's highest peak).
Historical context: Before 2015, Al Haouz was part of a region called Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz. When the reform consolidated regions, Al Haouz became a province within the larger Marrakech-Safi region.
Why people still say "Al Haouz": The name refers to the fertile plain surrounding Marrakech and the mountain foothills. It remains culturally significant.
🌾 Doukkala – Historical Region (Not an Administrative Region)
Status: Historical and geographical region — not a current administrative region.
Today: Its territory is divided between the provinces of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour.
Current administrative region: These provinces belong to the Casablanca-Settat region.
Historical context: Before 2015, there was an administrative region called Doukkala-Abda (with Safi as its capital). The 2015 reform merged it into Casablanca-Settat and Marrakech-Safi.
Why people still say "Doukkala": Doukkala is famous for agriculture (wheat, sugar beets, wine grapes). The name is deeply rooted in local identity and history.
🌴 Tafilalet – Historical Oasis Region
Status: Historical and geographical region — not a current administrative region.
Today: Its territory corresponds roughly to the province of Errachidia.
Current administrative region: It belongs to the Drâa-Tafilalet region.
Why it matters: Tafilalet is the largest oasis system in Morocco (over 2.8 million palm trees). It is also the ancestral heartland of the Alaouite dynasty (the current royal family).
UNESCO: In 2024, Tafilalet was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
📜 Other Historical Regions · Still Widely Used
Area around Settat and Berrechid. Agricultural heartland. Today part of Casablanca-Settat region.
Area around Safi. Often associated with Doukkala. Today split between Marrakech-Safi and Casablanca-Settat.
Fertile plain around Kenitra. Known for rice, sugar beets, and citrus. Today part of Rabat-Salé-Kenitra.
Large valley around Agadir. Famous for argan oil, citrus, and early-season vegetables. Today Souss-Massa region.
Plain around Beni Mellal. Known for olives, cereals, and irrigation. Today part of Béni Mellal-Khénifra.
Mountainous northern region. Known for cannabis cultivation, honey, and Mediterranean climate. Today part of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima.
🕰️ Pre-2015 Regions (Historical Administrative Divisions)
Before the 2015 reform, Morocco was divided into 16 regions. Many of these names survive in historical references.
📊 Administrative Hierarchy · From Kingdom to Commune
🇲🇦 Kingdom of Morocco (Al Mamlakah al-Maghribiyyah)
│
├── 12 Regions (Jihāt) ← since 2015 reform
│ │
│ ├── 13 Prefectures (urban areas)
│ └── 62 Provinces (rural areas)
│ │
│ ├── Circles (Districts)
│ │ │
│ │ └── Communes (municipalities / rural communes)
│ │
│ └── Municipalities (urban centers)
Note: The King appoints the Walis (governors of regions) and Governors (heads of provinces/prefectures). Regional councils are directly elected.
🔍 Quick Reference · Where is...?
❓ Why This Distinction Matters
📋 Official Documents
When filling out administrative forms, applying for permits, or registering a business, you must use the current region names (2015 reform) — not historical names like Doukkala or Tafilalet.
🗣️ Everyday Conversation
Moroccans frequently use historical region names in daily speech. "I'm from Doukkala," "This is Chaouia bread," "The olives of Tafilalet" — these are cultural references, not administrative ones.
🌾 Agriculture & Tourism
Many products (wine, dates, argan oil) are marketed under their historical region names because these names carry recognition and authenticity.
🌟 Local Wisdom: If you're navigating Moroccan bureaucracy, use the 2015 region names (Casablanca-Settat, Marrakech-Safi, etc.). If you're talking about culture, history, or food, feel free to use the traditional names (Doukkala, Chaouia, Tafilalet, Souss, Gharb). Both are correct — they just belong to different contexts.
🇲🇦 Morocco — A kingdom of layered identities, where ancient names live alongside modern boundaries.