The Moroccan Sahara, or the Southern Provinces of Morocco (in Amazigh languages: ⵜⵉⵎⵏⴰⴹⵉⵏ ⵏ ⵉⴼⴼⵓⵙ ⵎⵔⵔⵓⴽ), is the official name given to the southern regions of Morocco, which are divided into three regions, including the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
The Southern Provinces comprise the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, which includes the provinces of Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Assa-Zag, and Sidi Ifni; the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, which includes the provinces of Laâyoune, Boujdour, Smara, and Tarfaya; and the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region, which includes the provinces of Oued Ed-Dahab and Aousserd.
In 2015, King Mohammed VI launched a development program for the Southern Provinces encompassing 685 projects at a cost of approximately 80 billion dirhams, distributed across the phosphate, renewable energy, infrastructure, and water sectors. In March 2025, new projects in the field of green hydrogen were announced, valued at 319 billion dirhams, in partnership with international investors.
The Kingdom of Morocco affirms its commitment to granting broad autonomy to the Southern Provinces within the framework of national sovereignty, focusing on promoting integrated development as a model for achieving a decent standard of living, as stated in the 2014 Throne Speech. This is based on improving economic attractiveness, encouraging private initiatives, and protecting the Hassani cultural heritage.
History
In the 2014 Throne Speech, King Mohammed VI addressed the Moroccan people, stating: “We reaffirm our commitment to our initiative to grant our southern provinces autonomy, an initiative that the Security Council, in its latest resolution, once again affirmed as serious and credible. However, we will not jeopardize the future of the region, but will continue the development and modernization projects there, particularly by moving forward with the implementation of the development model for our southern provinces, based on a participatory approach, good governance, and integrated and multidimensional programs capable of achieving comprehensive development. We are also about to establish advanced regionalization in all regions of the Kingdom, foremost among them our southern provinces, which will allow for respect for regional specificities and democratic management by the local population of their local affairs within the framework of a unified Morocco of regions.”
The Development Model for the Moroccan Sahara
This model was launched by King Mohammed VI in his 2015 speech from the city of Laayoune on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Green March. In this speech, King Mohammed VI called for the implementation of this new development model for the southern provinces of Morocco and the mobilization of all available resources to carry out its major projects, including social, health, and educational initiatives in the three regions that comprise the southern provinces. The Southern Provinces Development Program (2015-2021) includes 685 projects with a total budget of 80 billion dirhams, distributed across the following sectors:
- Phosphates
- Renewable energies
- Electrical infrastructure
- Road infrastructure
- Ports
- Water, drinking water and sanitation
- Hydrocarbons and minerals
- Marine fisheries and fishing villages
- Agriculture
- Urban development
- Social sectors
- Water and forests, airports, digital sector
- Tourism
- Excerpt from King Mohammed VI's speech in 2015, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Green March:
“The implementation of the development model for the southern provinces of Morocco reflects our commitment to our citizens in these provinces, by making them a model of integrated development. We also want it to be a pillar for consolidating their definitive integration into the unified nation, and for strengthening the Sahara's role as an economic hub and a link between Morocco and its African hinterland. Therefore, with God's help and guidance, we have decided to mobilize all available resources to carry out a number of major projects, as well as social, health, and educational initiatives in the regions of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, and Guelmim-Oued Noun.”
- On March 6, 2025, the Moroccan government announced projects worth 319 billion dirhams in the Moroccan Sahara in the field of green hydrogen. The projects were awarded to Moroccan and foreign investors from America, Germany, Spain, France, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and China.
Administrative Division
The administrative division of the southern Moroccan provinces consists of three Sahrawi regions: the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, which is internationally recognized as part of Moroccan territory; the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region; and the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region.
Guelmim-Oued Noun Region
- Guelmim Province
- Tan-Tan Province
- Assa-Zag Province
- Sidi Ifni Province
Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region
- Laâyoune Province
- Boujdour Province
- Smara Province
- Tarfaya Province
Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region
- Oued Ed-Dahab province
- Aousserd province
The southern regions of Morocco: between yesterday and today
Forty-four years ago today, precisely on November 6, 1975, 350,000 Moroccan men and women from all over the country responded to the call issued by the builder of modern Morocco, the late King Hassan II, may God rest his soul, to march towards the Moroccan Sahara, which was then under Spanish control. This was accomplished through a great and triumphant peaceful march, known as the "Green March," which astonished the entire world. This historic event will forever remain etched in the Moroccan memory as one of the most important events witnessed by Morocco since independence.
After all these years, during which the southern provinces of the Kingdom of Morocco have experienced a qualitative leap in development, in a comprehensive and inclusive manner, with massive and continuous investments and remarkable progress in their main social and economic sectors, essential infrastructure, and necessary services, the benefits have directly impacted the region's inhabitants. This has been achieved by reducing social, regional, and territorial disparities throughout the Moroccan Sahara, improving the living conditions of the local population, responding to their aspirations, enhancing their quality of life, and addressing their needs, particularly in terms of infrastructure and social projects. Furthermore, there has been a focus on improving human development indicators and providing essential services, including the construction of road networks, the provision of drinking water and electricity, healthcare, and education, as well as attracting national and foreign investments to create direct and indirect job opportunities, thus ensuring a strong economic presence. Starting in 1975, the year Morocco regained its southern provinces, our beloved country launched numerous development projects, which included the construction, expansion, or renovation of airports in the southern regions. This initiative enabled the connection of the Moroccan Sahara regions, facilitated the movement of citizens, and ensured their integration into the national airport network, in addition to making travel easier from the airports of the Moroccan Sahara to international destinations. The construction, expansion, and modernization of our desert airports began continuously with the building of Hassan I Airport in Laayoune, the airport in Dakhla, the airport in Smara, as well as the airports of Guelmim and Tan-Tan Plage Blanche. Prior to the aforementioned year, the coasts of the liberated southern provinces, stretching over 1700 km, lacked ports and facilities related to maritime services. However, the progress witnessed along the shores of the Moroccan Sahara since then has constituted a remarkable and exemplary development boom, which has undoubtedly contributed to serving and developing economic activity in these provinces. The port of Tan-Tan was established in 1977 and expanded periodically, while the port of Laayoune was built in 1980, becoming operational in 1986, and further expanded in 2006. In addition, the port of Dakhla was constructed in 2001 and is classified among the major Moroccan ports in the fishing sector. These ports, in addition to fishing activities, include industrial zones, areas designated for the docking of commercial vessels, and container storage facilities, as well as areas for shipbuilding and repair. These ports (Sidi Ifni, Tan-Tan, Laayoune, Dakhla, Boujdour, and Tarfaya) experience significant commercial activity that keeps pace with the economic expansion in these regions. Considering the desert climate of the southern regions and the problem of sand encroachment, these ports have acquired advanced equipment and techniques for dredging and preventing sand from affecting ship docking. Among the southern regions, and one of the largest investment cities in Morocco, is Laayoune, which is truly a source of pride for the southern provinces. It was the first city on the African continent to have a desalination plant to provide water resources for its inhabitants. It also ranked second in the Arab Cities Competition, organized by the sister state of Qatar in 2013, thanks to its cleanliness, vast green spaces, and its designation as a city free of informal settlements. Furthermore, it boasts numerous public and private schools, as well as Spanish and French foreign missions, and vocational training centers. In terms of healthcare, Laayoune has a regional hospital and another hospital offering various specialties. Regarding sports facilities, each neighborhood in the city has one or two local football fields, totaling 54 fields, all equipped with artificial turf. There is also the "Sheikh Mohammed Laghdaf" football stadium, built in 1984, with a capacity of 30,000 spectators, six covered multi-sport halls, several swimming pools, and other sports facilities, including a conference center and a phosphate processing plant managed by the OCP Group (Office Chérifien des Phosphates) in Laayoune.
Morocco continues its development policy in the social, economic, cultural, educational, and sports fields in its southern provinces, which have been particularly distinguished by the practical implementation of the new development model, for which a budget of eight billion dollars has been allocated.
