By Ayomide Otitoju
Morocco is stepping up infrastructure and hospitality development ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, with the country seeking to attract global capital investment into its tourism and real estate sectors.
The country’s tourism development agency, Société Marocaine d’Ingénierie Touristique (SMIT), will serve as the institutional investment partner for the third edition of Morocco Showcase in Casablanca.
Morocco’s Tourism Ministry plans to add 60,000 hotel beds before the 2030 World Cup, while international hotel operators are expanding their presence to capitalise on the anticipated growth in visitor numbers.
Radisson Hotel Group, for instance, plans to increase its presence in Morocco from 11 to 30 hotels by 2030, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country’s hospitality market.
“Morocco offers a compelling opportunity for hotel development, supported by investment in infrastructure and a clear ambition to grow its tourism sector,” said Erwan Garnier, Associate Vice President, Development, Africa, at Radisson Hotel Group.
Garnier said the group was working with property owners to identify suitable brands and operating models for different locations, including business centres and leisure destinations.
He added that Morocco Showcase would provide a platform for investors, developers and hotel operators to establish partnerships and advance projects as preparations for the World Cup gather pace.
According to W Hospitality Group’s 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report, Morocco ranks second on the continent, with 75 hotels comprising 10,606 rooms in the development pipeline. About 70 per cent of the planned rooms are expected to open in 2026 and 2027.
David Desta, Vice President, Hotels and Hospitality, Africa, at JLL, said Morocco continued to strengthen its position as one of Africa’s leading destinations for hospitality and tourism investment.
He attributed the trend to strong visitor demand, expanding air connectivity, government-backed tourism initiatives and the growing presence of international hotel brands.
Desta said investors were expected to maintain interest in hospitality, mixed-use developments and the wider real estate sector, particularly in major cities such as Casablanca and Marrakech.
Investment activity has also increased in Morocco’s hotel and property markets. Since 2025, Casablanca-listed hotel owner and operator Risma has completed two major acquisitions involving the Tangier Corniche site and CMG, which owns Radisson Blu Marrakech Carré Eden and its adjoining shopping mall. The transactions were valued at a combined $67 million.
Risma also sold Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche to Pickalbatros for $46 million. In April, the company strengthened its partnership with Accor to renovate and reposition hotels and develop the Tangier Corniche project.
Morocco’s capital markets are also expanding. The Casablanca Stock Exchange, with a market capitalisation exceeding MAD1 trillion, equivalent to about $103 billion, recorded its 80th listing in December 2025 and launched a futures market and clearing house in April 2026.
Meanwhile, Kasada, a pan-African independent real estate private equity firm backed by the Qatar Investment Authority and Accor, has been selected by the Mohammed VI Investment Fund to manage a Moroccan tourism fund.
In March 2026, S&P Global affirmed Morocco’s investment-grade rating of BBB- with a stable outlook, while Moody’s maintained its Ba1 rating with a positive outlook, citing the country’s institutional and governance strengths.
API Events Commercial Director Murray Anderson said international investors, including Gulf sovereign wealth funds and development finance institutions, were committing capital to Morocco’s hospitality and infrastructure ambitions.
He said Morocco Showcase would bring together key industry stakeholders and prospective investors to explore opportunities shaping the country’s hospitality and real estate sectors before and beyond the 2030 World Cup.
The event’s programme will examine hotel performance in Morocco’s major cities, including occupancy rates, average daily rates and revenue per available room, as well as the impact of major sporting events on tourism demand.
Discussions will also focus on the expansion of local and regional hotel operators alongside international brands, opportunities in luxury and boutique hospitality, eco-tourism, and investment models for hotel development.
Other sessions will address real estate financing, family office investments, diaspora capital, mixed-use developments, logistics along the Tangier Med corridor, special economic zones, and office and retail property yields.
The closing plenary will feature presentations from Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech and Rabat, highlighting land availability, pricing, suitable asset classes and investment opportunities in each city.
The event will conclude with the Morocco Showcase Awards gala dinner, recognising achievements in commercial, residential and hospitality development, green development, innovation and lifetime achievement.
