The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €270 million loan to Morocco to expand and modernise airport infrastructure ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup - cohosted with Spain and Portugal, including terminal upgrades, equipment modernization and improved operational systems at Agadir, Fez, Marrakech, and Tangier.
The investment supports a national plan to lift airport capacity to 80 million passengers by 2030, up from 38 million, as part of a wider AED38 billion (about US$4 billion) programme supporting rising visitor numbers and ensuring the country can accommodate the expected surge in travel linked to the World Cup and this loan highlights how major sporting events are being used to accelerate long - term transport and tourism development across the country,
The upgrades are designed to strengthen domestic connectivity while also supporting Morocco’s ambition to position itself as a regional aviation gateway between Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The financing comes against a backdrop of strong tourism growth in Morocco. The North African country has already recorded a sharp rise in international arrivals, with visitor numbers reaching record levels in 2025.
Officials expect momentum to continue as infrastructure improves and global attention focuses on the country ahead of the World Cup. The African Development Bank (AfDB) loan also lifts the bank’s total commitments to Morocco this year to about US$1.3 billion, reinforcing the country’s status as one of of its largest borrowers.
Beyond the tournament, the airport investments are intended to deliver lasting economic benefits by supporting trade, tourism and job creation. While execution risks remain given the scale and timelines involved, the funding signals confidence in Morocco’s strategy of using global events to anchor broader infrastructure and growth objectives.
Morocco, Africa’s most visited destination in 2024, recorded 18 million tourist arrivals by November 2025, surpassing last year’s 17.4 million. Royal Air Maroc is expanding its fleet to strengthen Casablanca’s role as a hub linking Africa with Europe and the Americas reinforcing connectivity and further flows of tourists.
Morocco’s tourism success also stems from strategic government investments, improved infrastructure, a diverse offering of safe, exotic experiences, and effective promotion, expanding luxury resorts, increasing hotel capacity (43.000 new hotel beds), and leveraging events like the upcoming 2025 AFCON, solidifying its status as Africa’s leading destination with ambitious goals to double revenue by 2030.
Links
https://panfinance.net/afdb-backs-morocco-airport-expansion-drive/
https://atta.travel/resource/morocco-secures-loan-to-upgrade-airports-for-2030-world-cup.html
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