Country Profile of Morocco in English

8/20/2019 Country Profile of Morocco in English

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Info4Migrants

MOROCCOCountry pro le

Project number: UK/13/LLP-LdV/TOI-615


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446 550 km2

33,848 mlnPOPULATION

GDP per capita

CURRENCY

$3,291

Languages ARABIC, BERBER

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

2 Country profle MOROCCOLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com


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COUNTRY BACKGROUND

O cial name: Al Mamlakah al Magribiyah, the Kingdom ofMorocco.

Loca on: the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordering Alge-ria, Western Sahara and Spain

Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the in -terior. Geographically, Morocco is characterized by a ruggedmountainous interior and large por ons of desert. It is oneof only three countries (with Spain and France) to have bothAtlan c and Mediterranean coastlines.

Capital: Rabat

Largest city: Casablanca

Ethnic Make-up: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Chris an 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Government: cons tu onal monarchy

Na onal Flag

Na onal emblem

Rabat

WESTERNSAHARA

ALGERIA

SPAIN

Morocco



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MOROCCO FACTS

The nameThe name The English name “Morocco” originates from theSpanish and Portuguese names “Marruecos” and “Marro -cos”. These, in turn, derived from “Marrakesh”, the medie -val La n name for the former Almoravid dynasty and Almo-had Caliphate capital of ancient Morocco.

“Marrakesh” remains the name for Morocco in Persian, asit was, un l the late 20th century, in Middle Eastern Arabic.In Turkish, Morocco is known as “Fas”, a name derived fromits ancient capital Fes. The word “Marrakesh” is made of theBerber word-combina on Mur N’Akush, meaning “the Landof God”.

ClimateThe climate is Mediterranean in the North and in someof the mountains (West of Atlas), and it which becomesmore extreme towards the interior regions. The terrainis such that the coastal plains are rich, and accordingly,they comprise the backbone for agriculture, especiallyin the North. Forests cover about 12% of the land whilearable land accounts for 18%; 5% is irrigated. In theAtlas (Middle Atlas), there are several di erent climates:Mediterranean (with some more humid and freshervariants), Mari me Temperate (with some humid andfresher variants too) that allow di erent species of oaks,moss carpets, junipers, Atlan c cedars and many oth -er plants, to form extensive and very rich humid cloudforests. The climate changes when moving east of theAtlas mountains due to the barrier, or shelter, e ect ofthe mountain system, becoming very dry and extremelywarm during the long summer, especially on the low -lands and on the valleys facing the Sahara.



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MOROCCO FACTS

Argan OilMoroccan oil, which is also known as argon oil orargane oil, is a deriva ve from the Argania Spinozatree home-grown in Morocco. There are two purpos -es for this miracle oil: cosme c and culinary. Arganoil has been used in Moroccan cuisine for centuriesand is s ll used now. It is believed to have remarkablenutri onal bene ts and to be an e ec ve source tolower cholesterol. Recently, Moroccan oil has gainedan interna onal reputa on as nature’s an -aging skincare product.

FlagMorocco’s ag is red with a green pentacle ( ve-pointedlinear star) known as Sulayman’s (Solomon’s) seal in thecentre of the ag. Red and green are tradi onal coloursin Arab ags, and the pentacle represents the ve pillarsof Islam and signi es the associa on between God andthe na on. Its design dates to 1912.

HennaMoroccan Henna is a plant that can reach up to one me -ter in height. The leaves produce yellow or red dye. Thehenna is o en used for body pain ng. There are severaltypes of henna plants depending on the country of origin,and in Iran, Western India, China, North Africa and theWest henna is used for temporary ta oos.



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MOROCCO FACTS

Family valuesThe family is the most signi cant unit of Moroccan lifeand plays an important role in all social rela ons. Theindividual is always subordinate to the family or group.Nepo sm is viewed posi vely, since it indicates patron-age of one’s family. The family consists of both the nu-clear and the extended family. The elderly are reveredand respected and o en exert a great in uence on therest of the family.

LanguagesClassical Arabic is Morocco’s o cial language, but thecountry’s dis nc ve Arabic dialect is the most widely spo-ken language in Morocco. In addi on, about 10 millionMoroccans, mostly in rural areas, speak Berber - whichexists in Morocco in three di erent dialects - either as a

rst language or bilingually with the spoken Arabic dia-

lect. French, which remains Morocco’s uno cial third lan-guage, is taught universally and s ll serves as Morocco’sprimary language of commerce and economics; it also iswidely used in educa on and government. Many Moroc -cans in the northern part of the country speak Spanish.English is rapidly becoming the foreign language of choiceamong educated youth.

Deser ca onMorocco faces a problem with deser ca on. Deser -ca on is the process where fer le land becomes barrenand desert-like. Deser ca on may be caused by forcesof nature, such as lack of rainfall or drought. Humanscontribute to deser ca on when they clear away all thetrees or allow their livestock to graze too much so thatthey eat away all the plants. These prac ces leave noplants to hold the soil in place, so wind and rain can carryaway the fer le topsoil.



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January 1, Ras l’âm, NewYear’s DayThere is no religious signif -

icance a ached to this day,but it is recognized in Moroc-co as a holiday in line withthe rest of the world.

Moveable day during winter,Eid El-MawlidThe celebra on of the birthof the Prophet Mohammedtakes place on the twel h

day of the third Islamic cal-endar month of Rabi’ al-aw-wal.

May 11, Yaûm Al-Âmal, La-bor DayOtherwise known as MayDay and Interna onal Work-er’s Day, this celebra ontakes place all around the

world in recogni on of work-ers’ rights and their contribu -on to society.

Moveable day during sum-mer, Eid ul-FitrThis holiday marks the end ofRamadan, a period of fas ngand intense worship for ad -herents of the Muslim faith.

August 14, Zikra OuedEd-Dahab, Allegiance DayKnown locally as Zikra Oued

Ed-Dahab, this is the com-memora on of the return ofthe Oued Eddahab region to

Morocco by Mauritania.August 20, Thaourat al-ma-lik wa shâab, Revolu on ofthe King and the PeopleThis day is celebrated in re-membrance of the return ofKing Mohammed V to Mo-rocco a er a period of exilein Madagascar. His return set

in mo on nego a ons thatwould later lead to Moroc -can independence.

21 August, Eid Al Milad,Birthday of King Moham-med VIThis day is set aside for theci zens of Morocco, andpar cularly the youth, to

celebrate the birthday of theKingdom of Morocco’s cur-rent reigning king.

Moveable day during au-tumn or winter, Eid ul-AdhaThis fes val is a reminderof Ibrahim’s willingness tosacri ce his son Ishmael inobedience to a command

from God.November 6, Eid Al MassiraAl Khadra, Anniversary of

the Green MarchThis day commemorates theevent on 6 November 1975

when around 350,000 un -armed Moroccans along with27,000 soldiers marched tothe border of Western Saha -ra calling for the territory tobe returned to Morocco. Thecolor green was chosen toiden fy with Islam.

Moveable day during au-

tumn or winter, Fa h Mu-harram, Islamic New YearKnown as Fa h Muharram,this religious holiday is cel-ebrated on the rst day ofthe rst month of the Islamiccalendar, which is lunar andtherefore takes place on adi erent date than in theGregorian calendar. Mus-

lims take me on this day tore ect on the signi canceof this month as well as theHijra the prophet Mohamedmade to the city of Medina.

November 18, Eid Al Is qu-lal, Independence DayThis is Morocco’s Na onalDay in recogni on of the

country’s independence. Var -ious celebra ons take placethroughout the country.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS



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Early daysMorocco has been the home of the Berberssince the second millennium B.C. In A.D. 46,Morocco was annexed by Rome as part ofthe province of Mauritania un l the Vandalsoverran this por on of the declining empirein the 5th century. The Arabs invaded cir-ca 685, bringing Islam. The Berbers joinedthem in invading Spain in 711, but then theyrevolted against the Arabs, resen ng theirsecondary status. In 1086, Berbers tookcontrol of large areas of Moorish Spain un lthey were expelled in the 13th century.

The land was rarely uni ed and was usu-ally ruled by small tribal states. Con ictsbetween Berbers and Arabs were chronic.Portugal and Spain began invading Morocco,which helped to unify the land in defence.In 1660, Morocco came under the rule ofthe Alawite dynasty. It is a sherif dynasty—descended from the prophet Mohammad—and rules Morocco to this day.

French and Spanish Coloniza onDuring the 17th and 18th centuries, Mo -rocco was one of the Barbary States, theheadquarters of pirates who pillagedMediterranean traders. European powersshowed interest in colonizing the countrybeginning in 1840, and there were frequentclashes with the French and Spanish. Final-ly, in 1904, France and Spain concluded asecret agreement that divided Morocco intozones of French and Spanish in uence, withFrance controlling almost all of Moroccoand Spain controlling the small southwestpor on, which became known as Spanish

Sahara. Morocco grew into an even greaterobject of European rivalry by the turn of thecentury, nearly leading to a European warin 1905 when Germany a empted to gain afoothold in the mineral-rich country.

By the terms of the Algeciras Conference(1906), the sultan of Morocco maintainedcontrol of his lands and the privileges ob-tained by France were curtailed. The con -ference was an indica on of what was tocome in World War I, with Germany andAustria-Hungary lining up on one side of theterritorial dispute, and France, Britain, andthe United States on the other.

Independence and Sovereignty of MoroccoIIn 1912, the sultan of Morocco, MoulayAbd al-Ha d, permi ed French protectoratestatus. Na onalism grew during World WarII. Sultan Muhammed V was deposed by theFrench in 1953 and replaced by his uncle,but na onalist agita on forced his return in1955. In 1956, France and Spain recognizedthe independence and sovereignty of Mo -rocco. A er his death on 26 February, 1961,Muhammed V’s son succeeded him as KingHassan II. In the 1990s, King Hassan promul-gated “Hassanian democracy,” which al-lowed for signi cant poli cal freedom whileat the same me retaining ul mate powerfor the monarch. In August 1999, King Has-san II died a er 38 years on the throne,and his son, Prince Sidi Muhammed, wascrowned King Muhammed VI. Since then,Muhammed VI has pledged to make thepoli cal system more open, allow freedomof expression, and support economic re -

HISTORY IN BRIEF



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form. He has also advocated more rightsfor women, a posi on opposed by Islamicfundamentalists. The entrenched poli calelite and the military have also been leeryof some reform proposals. With about 20%of the popula on living in dire poverty, eco-nomic expansion is a primary goal.

Morocco’s Occupa on of Western SaharaMorocco’s occupa on of Western Sahara(formerly Spanish Sahara) has been repeat -edly cri cized by the interna onal com-munity. In the 1970s, tens of thousands ofMoroccans crossed the border into SpanishSahara to support their government’s con -ten on that the northern part of the terri -tory was historically part of Morocco. Spain,which had controlled the territory since1912, withdrew in 1976. When Mauritaniawithdrew in August 1979, Morocco overranthe remainder of the territory.

A rebel group, the Polisario Front, hasfought against Morocco since 1976 for theindependence of Western Sahara on behalfof the indigenous Saharawis. The Polisarioand Morocco agreed in September 1991to a UN-nego ated cease- re, which wascon ngent on a referendum regarding in -dependence. For the past decade, however,Morocco has opposed the referendum. In2002, King Muhammed VI reasserted thathe “will not renounce an inch of” WesternSahara.

Arab Spring Protests Reach MoroccoOn May 16, 2003, terrorists believed to beassociated with al-Qaeda killed 33 peo-ple in several simultaneous a acks. Fourbombs targeted Jewish, Spanish, and Bel -gian buildings in Casablanca. In the terroristbombings of 2004 in Madrid, Spain, numer-ous Moroccans were implicated. A waveof suicide bombings struck Casablanca inMarch and April 2007. Authori es were notcertain if the a acks were related.

Early in 2011, tens of thousands of pro-de -mocracy protesters gathered in variousci es, calling for a shi to a cons tu onalmonarchy in what was termed the Febru -ary 20th movement. King Mohammed VIanswered with promises of reform, whichtook the shape of a cons tu onal refer -endum in July. February 20th supporterscalled for a boyco of the referendum,calling the included reforms inadequateand taking o ense at its intent to bolsterthe king’s posi on as “supreme arbiter” ofpoli cal and ins tu onal life.

HISTORY IN BRIEF

Sultan Abdelha d of Morocco



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IslamIslam is prac sed by the majority of Moroc-cans and governs their personal, poli cal,economic and legal lives. Islam emanat-ed from what is today Saudi Arabia. TheProphet Mohammed is seen as the last ofGod’s emissaries (following in the footstepsof Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring rev-ela on to mankind. He was dis nguishedwith bringing a message for the whole ofmankind, rather than just to certain people.As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus theBible, Mohammed brought the last book,the Quran. The Quran and the ac ons ofthe Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as thebasis for all guidance in the religion.

Muslims are obligated to pray ve mesa day. Friday is the Muslim holy day; manycompanies also close on Thursday, makingthe weekend Thursday and Friday.

During the holy month of Ramadan, allMuslims must fast from dawn to dusk and

are only permi ed to work six hours perday. Fas ng includes no ea ng, drinking,cigare e smoking, or gum chewing. Expa-triates are not required to fast; however,

they must not eat, drink, smoke, or chewgum in public. Each night at sunset, familiesand friends gather together to celebratethe breaking of the fast (i ar). The fes v-i es o en con nue well into the night. Ingeneral, things happen more slowly duringRamadan. Many businesses operate on areduced schedule. Shops may be open andclosed at unusual mes.

Hshuma, the Concept of Shame Moroccans’ most cherished possession istheir honour and dignity, which concernsnot only themselves, but also all membersof their extended family.

Hshuma occurs when other people knowthat someone has behaved inappropriately.A Moroccan’s sense of self-worth is exter-nally focused, so the way others see themis of paramount importance.

In business, it is extremely important toverify anything that has been agreed to

in front of others as it may not have beena sincere agreement and the person mayhave no inten on of following through.

SOCIETY & CULTURE



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INDIGENOUS PEOPLEBerbersThe Berbers or Amazigh are an ethnicgroup indigenous to North Africa; thename Berber derives from the La nbarbarus.

Today, most of the Berber people livein Northern African countries, such as

Algeria and Morocco; a large Berberpopula on is also found in Tunisia, Lib-ya, Mauritania, Mali and Niger, as wellas large migrant communi es living inFrance, Turkey and other countries ofEurope. The Berber iden ty is usuallywider than language and ethnicity, andencompasses the en re history and geography of North Africa. Berbers are not an en relyhomogeneous ethnicity and they encompass a range of phenotypes, socie es and ances -

tries. The unifying forces for the Berber people may be their shared language, belonging tothe Berber homeland, or a collec ve iden ca on with the Berber heritage and history.There are some twenty- ve to thirty million Berber speakers in North Africa. The numberof ethnic Berbers (including non-Berber speakers) is far greater, as it is known that a largepart of the Berbers have acquired other languages over the course of many decades or cen -turies, and no longer speak Berber today.

Well-known modern Berbers in Europe include Zinedine Zidane, a French-born interna on-al football star of Algerian Kabyle descent, Loreen, the Swedish-born winner of Eurovision2012, and Ibrahim Afellay, a Dutch-born football player of Moroccan Ri an descent.

Moroccan Berber women s ll have ta oos in geometric designs on their faces, some mescovering much of their forehead, cheeks, and necks. These are marks of tribal iden ca onand date from a me when it was necessary to be able to spot women of one’s tribe whohad been carried o in raids.

Dubbed Moroccan, or Berber, tea has become the na onal drink of Morocco. It was intro -duced to Morocco in 1854 when blockaded Bri sh merchants uploaded large quan esof tea at major Moroccan ports. Thé à la Menthe (Green Mint Tea) is Chinese green teabrewed with a handful of mint leaves and loaded up with sugar.



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INTERESTING FACTS

• Morocco is only 13 km from Europe,across the Strait of Gibraltar.

• Oukaïmeden, in Morroco’s High AtlasMountains is the highest ski resort in Africa;however, snowfall rarely exceeds 20 cm)annually.

• White is the colour of mourning in Moroc-co. A Moroccan widow wears white for 40days a er the death of her husband.

• Morocco’s na onal animal is the Barbarylion. DNA evidence from two lion skullsfound in the Tower of London prove thatEnglish royalty owned at least two Barbarylions some me between the 13th and 15thcenturies.

• Moroccans jokingly call their tap waterSidi Robinet (Sir, or Lord, Tap), and it isdrinkable in most parts of the country.

• The word kasbah probably derives fromthe Turkish kasabe, meaning small town.

In contemporary Morocco and all of NorthAfrica, it is generally used to refer to thefor ed strong point in a city.

• O en called the “Red City,” Marra-kech, Morocco, requires sun protec on andheadgear of some kind all year-round, evenduring winter.

• Morocco is the largest processor and ex -porter of sardines in the world.

• The English word “genie” comes direct-

ly from the Arabic word djinn, deno ng aspiritual being that may play some part inhuman a airs if called upon. In Morocco,djinns are believed to frequent places as -sociated with water: public baths, drains,sinks, and even pots and pans.

• Casablanca, the lm named a er the Mo -roccan city, starring Humphrey Bogart andIngrid Bergman, won the Academy Awardfor Best Mo on Picture in 1942 and is con-sidered one of the best lms of all me.

• The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca isthe world’s seventh largest mosque, and ittook ve years of intensive labour by over30,000 workers and cra smen to completeit in 1993. The mosque’s minaret at 210 mhigh is the world’s tallest, and it is Casablan-ca’s chief landmark. In terms of coveredarea, the Hassan II Mosque is the largestin the world and has space for 80,000 wor -shippers.

• Morocco’s current royal family, the

Alaouites, dates from the 17th century. Sul-

tan Mohammed V, the current monarch’sgrandfather, organized Morocco as a cons -tu onal monarchy and assumed the tle ofKing in 1957. Mohamed VI has been King ofMorocco since July 30, 1999.

• Women’s rights in Morocco took a ma - jor step forward in 2004 with the reform

of the country’s personal status code, theMoudawana. With the reform, women inMorocco can now have custody of theirchildren, the unilateral repudia on of a wife



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INTERESTING FACTS

is abolished, and a man’s taking of a sec-ond wife is subject to the approval of his

rst wife.

• Tradi onally the liver, not the heart, isconsidered to be the symbol of love inMorocco.

• In the 1950s, Orson Welles stayed at theHôtel des Îles in Essaouira, Morocco, whilehe was lming the movie Othello. Legendhas it that he met Winston Churchill there.Essaouira also became famous as a hang -out for singers Cat Stevens and Jimi Hen-drix in the 1960s.

• In Morocco, very few ci zens have pri-vate baths, and a ritual puri ca on of thebody is essen al before Muslims can per-form prayers, so many Moroccans bathe atthe public hammam (bath). The hammamis segregated and, along with the localzaouia (saints’ shrine), is an importantplace for women to socialize.

• Morocco is the only African country thatis not a member of the African Union.

• The tomb of John the Bap st is saidto reside in the shrine of Sidi Yahia benYounes, situated in the Moroccan city ofOujda.

• The inventor of the rst pedestrian

crossing light, Leslie Hore-Belisha, is bur-ied in the Jewish cemetery of Essaouira.

• The Venus of Tan-Tan, a 6 cm stone carv -

ing found in a nearby river bed in 1999 inMorocco is alleged to be between 300,000and 500,000 years old and may be the ear -liest ar s c representa on of the humanform.

• Rabat was made the capital city of Mo -rocco in 1913 by the French because Mo -rocco had no xed capital at the me. Inthe 17th century, the Moroccan city Rabatwas, for a me, the center of the notori -ous Sallee Rovers, who were corsairs, orpirates. Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoewas a c onal cap ve of a “Turkish roverof Sallee.”

• The médersa, an Islamic college of high-er educa on, originated in Persia and wasdeveloped in the Islamic west in the 13thcentury. The largest Moroccan médersais the 16th century Médersa Ben Youssefin Marrakesh, which is also the largestmédersa in North Africa.

• Casablanca, or Dar el Beïda (White

House), is Morocco’s largest city. Oneversion of how the city got its name statesit was named a er Caid’s house, a large,white building that is visible from a dis-tance. Another version states that SidiAllal el-Kairouani named the city ad-Dāral-Bāyda (House of the White Princess),a er his daughter, Lalla Beida. The citychanged its name to the Spanish transla -

on “Casa Blanca” in 1770.• Morocco is second only to Egypt in theArab world for encouraging friendly re-



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pretzel called chebakkiya.

Ke a tagineBeef or lamb mince with garlic, fresh coriander and parsley, cinnamon and ground cori-ander is rolled into balls and cooked in a tomato and onion sauce. Just before the dish isready, eggs are cracked into depressions in the sauce and cooked to perfec on.

Couscous ‘Seksu’ or couscous is a ne wheat pasta tradi onally rolled by hand. It is steamed overa stew of meat and vegetables. To serve, the meat is covered by a pyramid of couscous,the vegetables are pressed into the sides and the sauce served separately. It is o en gar -nished with a sweet raisin preserve, or in the Berber tradi on, with a bowl of bu ermilk.

Makouda Moroccan street food is legendary and the best place to sample the wide variety is Dje -maa el-Fna square in Marrakech. Here beside the kebabs, calamari and grilled sardines,you will nd the more unusual sweet cheek meat of sheep’s heads, snails cooked in aspicy broth that wards o colds, and skewers of lamb’s liver with caul fat. Makouda areli le deep-fried potato balls, delicious dipped into spicy harissa sauce.

Zaalouk Moroccan meals begin with at least seven cooked vegetable salads to scoop up withbread. They can include green peppers and tomatoes, sweet carrots or courge e purée,and a dish of local olives alongside. Zaalouk is a smoked aubergine dip, seasoned withgarlic, paprika, cumin and a li le chilli powder.

B’s lla This very special pie represents the pinnacle of exquisite Fassi (from Fez) cuisine. Layers ofa paper-thin pastry coddle a blend of pigeon meat, almonds and eggs spiced with sa ron,cinnamon and fresh coriander, the whole dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon.

Mint teaKnown as ‘Moroccan whisky’, mint tea is the drink of choice. It is usually heavily sweet-ened with sugar chipped o a sugar cone. Gunpowder tea is steeped with a few sprigs of

spearmint stu ed into the teapot. It is poured into a tea glass from a height to create afroth called the crown.

CUISINE



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MarrakeshThe bustling and vibrant buzz of Marrakesh Medina sums up Morocco for many visi-tors. The entrance to the Old City is via the vast plaza of Djemma el-fna Square where,it seems, half of the city converges throughout the day and into the evening to hang outwith the stall vendors, tradi onal musicians, snake charmers and random acrobats. Onceinside the Medina itself, you enter a world of maze-like alleyways and shopkeeper hustle.It is an experience full of colourful and noisy local life, and not to be missed on your Mo-

roccan sightseeing trails.

Hassan II MosqueCasablanca’s landmark building, the Hassan II Mosque, is a lavish symbol not only of thecity, but also of Morocco itself. This modern mosque ( nished in 1993) does not do thingsby halves. The ornamental details covering every cen metre of the mammoth 2 ha sitetook 10,000 ar sans to complete. Intricately carved marble pieces, vibrant mosaics andzellige le details pay tribute to tradi onal Islamic architecture, and yet s ll manage tofeel contemporary.

Oudaias KasbahRabat’s Oudaias Kasbah neighbourhood is a peaceful and perfectly quaint district thatfeels miles away from the city, yet is right in the heart of it. Inside the walls of this oldfortress are lanes of neat white-and-blue houses rimmed by colourful owerpots and

apping washing. It is the pre est corner of the capital.

Fes el BaliAlong with Marrakesh, Fes is Morocco’s other big cultural des na on. But unlike its sisterImperial City to the south, Fes has not been trussed up for the tourists. Fes el Bali (OldCity) is an authen c muddle of a place where it is nearly impossible not to get lost. Theback alleys with their chipped plaster-work and gorgeous old doors will have you stopping

When you travel to Morocco, the best places to visit include the imperialci es of Marrakech, Fes and Meknes. This is where you nd wonderful ba -

zaars, palaces and bustling town squares. Morocco is also famous for itsbeaches and some of the best seaside towns include Essaouira, Tangier and

Asilah. You can also hire a camel, trek through the Sahara and climb North Africa’s highest peak to enjoy the beauty of Moroccan landscapes or stay ina tradi onal Kasbah in the fascina ng Dades Valley.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS



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for photos on every corner, while the s nking tanneries are one of Fes el Bali’s most pop -ular a rac ons for those who can handle the smell.

TangierTangier has a fascina ng and slightly debauched role in 20th century literary history, andthis past is what draws many tourists here. This is the city that inspired famous workssuch as Paul Bowles’ “The Sheltering Sky” and William Burroughs’ “Naked Lunch”. Tangier

may have been scrubbed up since their day with the bohemian cafes and lounge bars longgone, but you can s ll catch a whi of the decadent days gone by.

ChefchaouenIn the beau ful Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a gorgeous labyrinth of blue-on-blue build-ings that has an incredibly photogenic glow. There is not much actual sightseeing to bedone, and this is one of the town’s main a rac ons. It is simply about wandering the Me -dina alleys and lapping up all that colourful architecture. It is a peaceful, easy-going townand a great place to recharge.

VolubilisMorocco’s number one Roman ruin is a feast for history-lovers with a clutch of remark-able mosaics s ll interred where they were unearthed. This site is also full of tumbledcolumns and temple remnants, standing as reminders that even the greatest empireswill eventually crumble. The hilltop loca on allows the ruins to lord over the surroundingcountryside, adding to the roman c ambiance of lost glory. This tourist a rac on is aneasy day trip from either Meknes or Fes.

Bab al-MansourThis mammoth gateway (which guards the entrance to Meknes’ Imperial City district fromthe Medina) is noted for its stunning decora on. Meant as a monumental reminder of thesultan’s might, the Bab al-Mansour is a magni cent relic of Meknes’ glorious era as capi-tal.

Ait Ben HaddouThis golden adobe kasbah (fortress) thrusts drama cally out of the earth amid scenerythat wows all who visit. It is a fairy-tale place, and the orange-hued turrets have become

a favourite lm loca on due to the surreal beauty. If you are heading out into Morocco’sinland regions, it should de nitely be on your must-visit list.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS



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Dades ValleyHikers, trekkers and general nature-lovers should not miss a journey into the raw land -scapes of Morocco’s Dades Valley. With the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas in thedistance, the big-sky country here is the perfect an dote for those who have been ge ngfrazzled nerves amid the souks of Marrakesh and Fes. There are dinky villages galore, ex-cep onal bird spo ng opportuni es and lush elds stretching as far as the eye can see.

EssaouiraMorocco’s most charming seaside village is laid-back Essaouira, an old hippie haunt of the1970s that has lost none of its authen city.The colourful shing boats bobbing onthe water, stately old shore-side fortand twisty lanes of the old townmake Essa (as it is a ec onatelyknown by frequent visitors) a

delight to discover.Erg ChebbiInland, in Morocco’s east-ern Sahara region, arethe grand and ripplingsand dunes of the ErgChebbi, where would-beexplorers and adven -

ture-seekers head to geta dose of desert ac on.This is prime territory fordune-sur ng, four-wheel-drive dune-bashing andthe (much more authen c)camel trekking. For thosewith less of an ac ve nature, just si ng amid the sand dune

splendour is worth the long jour -ney out here.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS



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IMPORTANT TIPS

Mee ng E que e• When Moroccans greet each other theytake their me and converse about theirfamilies, friends, and other general topics.• Handshakes are the customary gree ngbetween individuals of the same sex. Some -

mes women will shake hands too, but ifa hand is not o ered, then just nod yourhead slightly to say hello. The verbal formalgree ng is “Ah salaam ahlaykum” whichmeans “peace be upon you”. To respond,you say “Wah alaykum salaam”. Some peo-ple say “salaam” to keep it short.• Handshakes may be somewhat weak ac -cording to western standards.• Once a rela onship has developed, it iscommon to kiss on both cheeks, star ngwith the le cheek while shaking hands,men with men and women with women.• In any gree ng that does take place be -tween men and women, the woman mustextend her hand rst. If she does not, aman should bow his head in gree ng.• When entering a social func on, shakehands with the person to your right and

then con nue around the room going fromright to le .• Say good-bye to each person individuallywhen leaving.

Gi Giving E que e• If you are invited to a Moroccan’s homebring sweet pastries, nuts, gs, dates or

owers to the hostess.

• A small gi for the children is seen as atoken of a ec on.• Do not bring alcohol unless you know that

your host drinks.• Gi s are not opened when received.

Table manners•Food is generally served at a knee-highround table.• The guest of honour generally sits next tothe host.• A washing basin will be brought to thetable before the meal is served. Hold yourhands over the basin while water is pouredover them. Dry your hands on the towelprovided.• Do not begin ea ng un l the host blessesthe food or begins to eat.• Food is served from a communal bowl.• Eat from the sec on of the bowl that is infront of you. Never reach across the bowlto get something from the other side. As anhonoured guest, choice cuts will be put infront of you.• Scoop the food with a piece of bread orthe thumb and rst two ngers of the righthand.• Eat and drink only with the right hand.

• Do not wipe your hands on your napkin.• Water is o en served from a communalglass. If you want your own glass, ask for a



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IMPORTANT TIPS

so drink.• The washing basin will bebrought around the table againat the end of the meal.• Expect to be urged to takemore food o the communalplate. Providing an abundanceof food is a sign of hospitality.

ClothesClothes are par cularly im-portant: many Moroccans,especially in rural areas, maybe o ended by clothes thatdo not fully cover parts of thebody considered “private”,including both legs and shoul-ders, especially for women. Inurban areas, Moroccan womenwear short-sleeved tops andknee-length skirts, and menmay wear sleeveless T-shirtsand above-the-knee shorts.However, the Muslim idea of“modest dress” (such as wouldbe acceptable in a mosque, forexample) requires women tobe covered from wrist to ankle,and men from over the shoul -der to below the knee. At leastin rural areas, it is a good ideato follow these codes, and de -nitely a bad idea for women towear shorts or skirts above the

knee, or for members of eithersex to wear sleeveless T-shirtsor very short shorts. Even ordi-nary T-shirts may be regarded

as underwear, par cularly inrural mountain areas. The bestguide is to note how Moroccansdress locally.

Insha’AllaThis means “God willing” or“if God wills it”. You will hearthis used a bit like “maybe” or“possibly”.

TimeTime concept is exible inMorocco. Things rarely happenon me, or something will takemuch longer than planned. Trynot to get upset about it – yourfrustra on generally has noin uence on the outcome, so itis best just to relax.

FeetFeet are generally consideredunclean – especially the soles – so do not point them at peo -ple, or step over things whenyou can go around. You are alsoexpected to take your shoeso when entering someone’shouse.

GesturesThumb up does not mean thesame thing and is considered

rude, and so is the “a-okay” sign – the one where you touch yourfnger and thumb in a circle andspread your remaining fngers.



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IMPORTANT TIPS

A ec onPublic displays of a ec on between a maleand a female, such as kissing, is not consid-ered appropriate and should be avoided.You may no ce Moroccan men walkingor standing holding hands, this is normalbetween good friends, and it does not indi -cate anything beyond platonic friendship.

HandsSome Muslims may consider the le handto be unclean. You should always thereforeshake hands, eat or o er and receive withthe right hand.

MosquesIt will usually be the case that if you are anon-Muslim you will not be able to entermosques or the immediate area of somereligious shrines. If you are unsure, thensimply ask.

Haggling

As with many na ons, there is a culture ofnego a ng prices in Morocco. If there isa price marked on an object, it is almostcertainly inappropriate to nego ate on the

price, except for perhaps when you arebuying many items at once. However, ifthe price is not marked, you may begin the

ne art of haggling. The vendor will quoteyou a price to begin with, depending onwhether you are in the tourist district of alarge town or in a village market, the start -ing price may be somewhere from ten toone and a half mes the going rate. At thispoint, you will need to make a judgementcall. On one hand, paying over the odds candrive up expecta ons and prices generallyfor everyone including locals. On the otherhand, driving the price of a souvenir downby the equivalent of 25 pence will make vir-tually no di erence to you but may changethe weekly income of a rural family by afew percent.

ConductTry to conduct yourselves in a generallycalm and reasonably quiet manner. As arule of thumb, simply observe the local

Moroccans around you and try not to besigni cantly louder or more boisterous thanthem.



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mosque or shrine. These roles also apply to women in the countryside, where agriculturaldu es are shared with their husbands. However, in the countryside in Berber villages it isthe women who o en run the households and spend most of their me doing the agricul -tural work.

As a result of Morocco’s culture and tradi ons, women do not o en accompany their hus -bands on social ou ngs. With the excep on of modern ci es such as Casablanca and Mar -rakesh, it is not likely to see a co-ed group of Moroccans mingling in a local cafe or bar.In more tradi onal areas of the country and in some of the larger ci es, women are alsonot supposed to smoke, travel alone or without parental consent, or be unaccompaniedlate at night.

Much of this is gradually changing as foreigners con nue to make their lives in Morocco.Morocco is the home to a large popula on of Bri sh and French families, along with manyAmericans, Germans and Spaniards. As a result of foreigners reloca ng to make Moroccotheir permanent home, and others purchasing property for vaca on homes or buildingriads, Morocco has become increasingly open.

Considering Morocco’s history, its occupa on by the French and Portuguese, the countryhas become a melange of the novella (new) and the old. European contemporary in u -ences on Moroccan tradi onal architecture, cuisine, fashion, lm, music and decora onare leading the way to a new Morocco.

For the most part, Moroccans are incredibly open-minded, especially in ci es where tour -ism is common (Marrakesh, Casablanca, Fes, Essouaria, Rabat, Meknes, and Ouarzaza-

te) and you will nd it quite easy to have conversa ons with locals (in souks and hotels)about world poli cs, the cultural and historical tradi ons of Morocco and the economy.

The popularity of tourism caused the Moroccan economy undergo a process of liberal -iza on and moderniza on, consequently altering some societal values. Today, Moroc -can women are taking more ac ve roles in the government, law, medicine, warfare, andtrade. There is also an increase in university enrollment among the younger genera on,ul mately, leading to a more open-minded youth and a greater tolerance for modernideas and Western in uences. Consequently, Moroccans are ge ng more used to seeing

females (par cularly tourists) visi ng cafes and other places that in the past were primari -ly frequented by men.

PEOPLE IN MOROCCO



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SOCIETY

MarriageMarriage is a civil ceremony that is conducted in city o ces. A religious ceremony is alsoperformed. The ceremony is similar to those in the United States, with the addi on ofsponsors. Principal sponsors are friends and rela ves who have posi ons of in uence inthe community. The number of principal sponsors a ests to the popularity and poten alsuccess of a couple. It also reduces the couple’s expenses, since each principal sponsor isexpected to contribute a substan al amount of cash. Members of the wedding party aresecondary sponsors, who do not have to provide funds.

Arranged marriages have not been part of Filipino life. However, men are expected tomarry, and if a man has not married by his late twen es, female rela ves begin intro -ducing him to poten al brides. The median age for marriage is twenty-two. Young pro-fessionals wait un l their late twen es to marry, and engagements of ve to seven yearsare not uncommon. During this period, the couple becomes established in jobs, pays forthe educa on of younger siblings, and acquires household items. A woman who reachesthe age of thirty-two without marrying is considered past the age for marriage. Women

believe that marriage to a wealthy man or a foreigner will guarantee happiness. Divorceis illegal, but annulment is available for the dissolu on of a marriage. Reasons for annul-ment include physical incapacity, physical violence, or pressure to change one’s religiousor poli cal beliefs. Interfaith marriages are rare.

Domes c UnitThe extended family is the most important societal unit, especially for women. Women’sclosest friendships come from within the family. Mothers and daughters who share ahome make decisions concerning the home without conferring with male family mem -

bers. One child remains in the family home to care for the parents and grandparents. Thischild, usually a daughter, is not necessarily unmarried. The home may include assortedchildren from the extended family, and single aunts and uncles. Several houses may beerected on the same lot to keep the family together. Childcare is shared. Fathers carry andplay with children, but are unlikely to change diapers. Grandparents who live in the samehousehold are the primary care-givers for the children since both parents generally work.Preschool grandchildren who live in other communi es may be brought home for theirgrandparents to raise. Indigent rela ves live in the family circle and provide householdand childcare help. Young people may work their way through college by exchanging workfor room and board. Family bonds are so close that nieces and nephews are referred to asone’s own children and cousins are referred to as sisters and brothers. Unmarried adultwomen may legally adopt one of their sibling’s children.



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CORPORATE CULTURE

Rela onships & Communica on

• Who you know is more important thanwhat you know, so it is important to net -work and cul vate a number of contacts,who may then assist you in working yourway through the serpen ne bureaucracy.• Expect to be served mint tea wheneveryou meet someone, as this demonstrateshospitality.• Moroccan business prac ces have beengreatly in uenced by the French and em -phasize courtesy and a degree of formality.• Since Moroccans judge people on appear -ances, dress and present yourself well.

Business Mee ng E que e

• Appointments are necessary and shouldbe made as far in advance as possible, andcon rmed a day or two before the mee ng.• It is best to avoid scheduling mee ngs

during Ramadan since Muslims cannot eat

or drink during the day.• Never try to schedule mee ngs on Fridaybetween 11:15 am and 3 pm, since mostcompanies close for prayers.• Try to arrive at mee ngs on me and beprepared to wait. Moroccan businesspeoplewho are accustomed to dealing with inter -na onal companies o en strive to arrive on

me, although it is o en di cult for themto do so in such a rela onship-driven cul-ture.• In general, Moroccans have an open-doorpolicy, even during mee ngs. This meansyou may experience frequent interrup ons.Others may even wander into the room andstart a di erent discussion. You may joinin, but do not try to bring the topic back tothe original discussion un l the new personleaves.• French is generally the language of busi -ness, although some companies use English.

Moroccans prefer to dobusiness with those theyknow and respect, there-

fore expect to spend me

cul va ng a personal rela -onship before business isconducted.



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Business Nego a ons

• Companies are hierarchical. The highest ranking person makes decisions, but only a erobtaining a group consensus.• Decisions are reached a er great delibera on.• If the government is involved, discussions will take even longer since the ministers ofseveral departments must o en give approval.• Moroccans are looking for long-term business rela onships.• Do not cri cize anyone publicly. It is important that you do not cause your Moroccanbusiness associates to lose face.• Moroccans are non-confronta onal. They may agree in mee ngs rather than cause youto lose face.• Expect a fair amount of haggling. Moroccans seldom see an o er as nal.• Decisions are made slowly. Do not try to rush the process, as it would be interpreted asan insult.• The society is extremely bureaucra c. Most decisions require several layers of approval.• It may take several visits to accomplish simple tasks.• Do not use high-pressure tac cs as they will work against you.• Moroccans can be deliberate and forceful nego ators.

Dress E que e

• Business a re is formal and conserva ve.• Men should wear dark coloured conserva ve business suits to the ini al mee ng.• Women should wear elegant business suits, dresses or pantsuits.

• Women must be careful to cover themselves appropriately. Skirts and dresses shouldcover the knee and sleeves should cover most of the arm.• Avoid wearing expensive accessories.

Business Cards

• Business cards are given without formal ritual.• Have one side of your card translated into French or Arabic.• Present your card so the translated side faces the recipient.

BUSINESS CULTURE



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Veronica GelfgrenYulia BazyukinaMarja-Liisa Helenius

ResearchResearch, layoutProofreading

Country Profile of Morocco in English

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Transcript of Country Profile of Morocco in English