The city of Saïdia is located at the far northeast of Morocco on a stretch of about twenty kilometers, 20 km from the city of Berkane and 60 km from the city of Oujda. This small coastal town occupies a privileged geographical position and constitutes an essential crossroads open to European and Maghrebian markets and close to the main land, air, and sea transport routes (2 hours by plane from Europe, 50 km and 60 km respectively from Oujda-Angad airport and Oujda railway station, 80 km from the port of Nador and Aroui airport, and 90 km from the port and airport of Melilla).
The first nucleus of the city dates back to 1883 and was the work of Sultan Hassan I, who built a Casbah with an area of 15,600m2 on the left bank of the mouth of the Kiss River. This monument, a seigniorial relic of glorious epics, served among other things as a bastion of resistance against the hegemony of the invaders.
Although it dates back to the dawn of the 19th century, it was during the French protectorate (1927) that the city was developed as a seaside resort, delighting the locals and the entire colonial presence in the Oriental region.
Transformed into an urban municipality in 1992, the city of Saïdia currently has a few inhabitants (RGPH, 2014) and receives thousands of visitors in the summer period attracted by its multiple and diversified tourist attractions.
Beach - Sun
Regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Kingdom, Saïdia boasts undeniable natural assets that can charm even the most demanding in terms of seaside tourism. Its ideal climate (more than 300 days of sunshine per year with average annual temperatures ranging from 18°C in winter to 31°C in summer), its 14 km of fine golden sand, the clarity of its clean waters suitable for swimming and enlivened by a gentle swell, and the exuberance of its landscapes attract more than 200,000 visitors each year from all corners of the country and abroad, with a significant presence of Moroccans residing abroad (MRE) accounting for 14.5% of the total summer visitors.
Infrastructure and Entertainment
The potential of this resort, lending itself to greater exploitation and opening up considerable investment prospects, is enhanced by the facilities the city offers in terms of tourism and is reinforced by the marina, the bypass stretching along the Mediterranean coast for 560 km and connecting Saïdia to Tangier, the hotel school, and by the growth of festivities, both artistic, cultural, and sporting. All these attractions predispose Saïdia to become a significant tourist destination, leading to the enhancement of other nearby localities along the same coast and towards the hinterland (especially the Béni Snassen area).
The new tourist resort: Mediterrania
The Province of Berkane is adorned with natural assets of great touristic value. Saïdia, the jewel of this niche, has been chosen for a major development project to create an international seaside resort (videos + photos) with nearly 28,000 beds and spaces for entertainment and leisure, representing an investment of nearly 9 billion Dirhams. This will generate 48,000 jobs, including 8,000 permanent positions. This very ambitious project is expected to welcome hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, meeting their expectations and aspirations for more comfort and luxury. The site development work began in November 2003 by the Spanish Group FADESA.
It is certain that an investment of such magnitude will be accompanied by the opening of major road development projects (strengthening of service axes, bypass roads, etc.), restructuring of the neighborhoods around the resort and the hinterland, enhancement of other niche products, and expansion of sociocultural facilities. These achievements are likely to attract other operators and investors to the region and confer upon Saïdia the role of a driving force in the new proactive policy aimed at accelerating the growth of investment and the tourism industry.
Contacts and Practical Information
Website: https://mtaess.gov.ma/fr/