Back to destinationsMorocco
General Information
- Capital City:
- Rabat
- Population:
- 30.5 million
- Area:
- 172,316 square miles
- Language:
- Arabic, Berber, French, Spanish, English
- Electricity:
- 110/220V AC 50Hz
- Direct Dial:
- 212
- Driving:
- Driving is on the right. National licence. International Driving Permit or UK licence required
- Currency:
- Moroccan Dirham (MAD 1 = 100 Centimes)
Business Hours
- Bank:
- 0815-1200 & 1415-1715 Mon-Thur, 0815-1130 & 1445-1715 Fri (winter), 0800-1500 (summer, subject to change)
- Office:
- 0800-1600 Mon-Fri
- Shops:
- 0930-1300 & 1500-1930 Mon-Sat
- Public Holidays:
- <b>2012</b> 01 Jan : New Year's Day 11 Jan : Manifesto of Independence 04 Feb : A�d al-Mawlid (Prophet's Birthday) 01 May : Labour Day 30 Jul : Feast of the Throne 14 Aug : F�te Oued Eddahab (Oued Eddahab Allegiance Day) 19 Aug : A�d al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) 20 Aug : R�volution du Roi et du Peuple (Anniversary of the King and the People's Revolution) 21 Aug : King Mohammed's Birthday 26 Oct : A�d al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) 06 Nov : Marche Verte (Anniversary of the Green March) 15 Nov : Fatih Muharram (Islamic New Year) 18 Nov : F�te de l'Ind�pendance (Independence Day) Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon, and dates listed are approximate. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes A�d al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted until the end of A�d al-Fitr. A�d al-Fitr and A�d al-Adha may 2-10 days, depending on the region.
Business and social hints
- General:
- Business is conducted in French but many executives speak English and some Spanish. Bargaining is a way of life and it is important to be patient. Care should be taken to respect Muslim and other religious conventions. Laws on alcohol are quite libertarian
- Tipping:
- A service charge is normally added to all bills, however additional discretionary tips are customary
- Clothing:
- Lightweights for most of the year with warmer clothing for the evenings, winter on the coast and in the mountains. Rainwear is advisable in the wet season, particularly on the coast and in the mountains
- Emergency Services:
- Police: 19. Fire: 15. Ambulance: 777
- Hotel Classification:
- Most (but not all) hotels in Morocco are graded by the usual 1- to 5-star system with the added refinement of a top grade of 5-star de luxe, shown here as *****L. Holiday Villages, aparthotels and apartments (residences) are graded as 1st, 2nd or 3rd class
Rabat
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Temperature °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 21 | 18 |
| Minimum Temperature °C | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
| Average Humidity (mornings) % | 89 | 90 | 88 | 89 | 89 | 87 | 88 | 91 | 92 | 89 | 89 | 87 |
| Average Humidity (afternoons) % | 72 | 68 | 65 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 59 | 60 | 62 | 67 | 67 | 68 |
| Average Rainfall | 66 | 64 | 66 | 43 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 48 | 84 | 86 |
- Import Allowances:
- For adults only: a) 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400gr of tobacco b) 1 lit of spirits & 1 lit of wine or 3 lit of wine c) 100ml of perfume
None.
- Compulsary Vaccinations
- None.
- Recommended Immunisations
- Tetanus; Hepatitis A. <b>In addition:</b> Typhoid, Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Rabies & Tuberculosis are also recommended to those travelling to Morocco frequently or intending to spend extended time here.
- Risks
- None. <b>GENERAL INFO FOR ALL TRAVELLERS:</b> Details listed can occasionally change at very short notice and it's recommended that all travellers seek advice from their Practice Nurse, GP or Travel Clinic when planning a visit to Morocco. It should be noted that some vaccinations and treatments required may require one or more visits and should be planned well in advance of travel. Primary courses and boosters should always be up to date as recommended for life in the UK. This should include vaccines given to special groups due to complications or risk exposure such as Hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly etc.
The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Morocco. 2) Holders of a Residence Permit issued by Morocco. 3) For stays up to 3 months by: a) Holders of British passports endorsed "British Citizen" or "British National (Overseas)". b) Holders of British passports endorsed "British Subject" containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode issued by the UK. c) Nationals of Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea (Rep of), Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland (Rep of), Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, USA & Venezuela. 4) For stays up to 30 days by: a) Nationals of Hong Kong (SAR China passports) & Hungary.
Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be checked with the Moroccan Embassy
Embassy
Moroccan Embassy 49 Queen's Gate Gardens London, SW7 5NE tel: +44 20 7581 5001/5004 fax: +44 20 7225 3862 e-mail: ambalondres@maec.gov.ma website: www.moroccanembassylondon.org.uk hours: 09.00-17.00 (Mon-Fri) Consulate of Morocco Diamond House 97/99 Praed Street London W2 Tel: 020 7724 0719, 020 7724 0624 Fax: 020 7706 7407 e-mail: Consmorocco.uk@lycos.co.uk
Airports
- Agadir Al Massira
- Casablanca Mohammed V
- Marrakech Menara
- Tangier Ibn Batouta