Morocco

General Information
Business Hours
Business & social hints
Climate
Customs
Health
Immigration & Passport
Useful Contacts

General Information

Capital City:: Rabat
Population:: 34.8 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:: 2010 1 Jan New Year's Day, 11 Jan Manifesto of Independence, 26 Feb Aï¿½d al-Mawlid (Prophet's Birthday), 1 May Labour Day, 30 Jul Feast of the Throne, 14 Aug Fï¿½te Oued Eddahab (Oued Eddahab Allegiance Day), 20 Aug Rï¿½volution du Roi et du Peuple (Anniversary of the King and the People's Revolution), 21 Aug King Mohammed's Birthday, 10 Sep Aï¿½d al-Fitr (End of Ramadan), 6 Nov Marche Verte (Anniversary of the Green March), 16 Nov Aï¿½d al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), 18 Nov Fï¿½te de l'Indï¿½pendance (Independence Day), 7 Dec Fatih Muharram (Muslim New Year). Note: Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar

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

The northern coast and interior mountains have a Mediterranean climate although the Atlantic coast is slightly cooler than the Mediterranean coast in winter. Inland in the High Atlas mountains the climate is influenced by altitude and winter snowfall can be heavy. Inland at lower levels summers are very hot although winter and spring days can be chilly. The Saharan region has typically hot summers and mild winters

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,ï¿½Hepatitis A.
Risks: Malaria: Very limited risk from May-Oct in certain rural areas of Chefchaouen Province. Rabies.
Notes: In addition, the following recommendation(s) may also apply to those travelling frequently or intending to spend extended time in this country: Typhoid, Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Tuberculosis.

Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Morocco 2) For stays up to 3 months by: a) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen or British National (Overseas) b) 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, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland Rep, 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, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States & Venezuela 3) For stays up to 30 days by nationals of Hong Kong (SAR passports), Hungary

Embassy

The Moroccan Consulate 49 Queen's Gate Gardens London, SW7 5NE tel: +44 20 7240 0624, fax: +44 20 7225 3862 e-mail: mail@sifamaldn.org website: www.visitmorocco.org hours: 1000-1300 (Mon-Fri)