Morocco’s Ministry of the Interior has issued strict new orders to local authorities to unblock long-stalled housing projects, especially in cities set to host matches for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Hespress has learned from informed sources that Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit directed provincial and regional governors to fast-track dormant projects by pushing them into formal settlement processes.
The move aims to revive housing developments that have been frozen for years, particularly social and mid-range housing and associated infrastructure. Local officials have been instructed to swiftly organize meetings and compile updated reports on the reasons behind project delays within their jurisdictions.
Central authorities specifically urged officials in Marrakech, Rabat, Fez, Agadir, and Tangier to adopt Casablanca’s successful model for resolving housing gridlocks.
This involves stepping up talks with developers, municipal leaders, and utility companies to untangle licensing bottlenecks, from housing compliance certificates and planning approvals to water, electricity, and sanitation hookups. The directive also covers resolving property-related issues with regional land registry agencies.
Sources confirmed the instructions were triggered by troubling findings in reports from the General Directorate of Local Authorities, which highlighted rising disputes between developers, real estate firms, and municipal councils.
Many projects had stalled due to overlapping administrative responsibilities, delays in permits, and conflicts of interest between investors and local officials. Other obstacles included surging material costs, mounting debts to suppliers and banks, and in some cases, the seizure and auctioning of incomplete projects.
The crackdown coincides with Morocco’s heightened efforts to combat illegal construction, demolish unauthorized buildings, and rehouse residents of slums and unsafe housing. These measures have unsettled the political strategies of some municipal officials, who had been leveraging housing projects to secure electoral support ahead of the 2026 elections.
The ministry’s push also follows new intelligence gathered through aerial surveys and drone footage, which revealed hidden violations and an expansion of informal settlements around major cities.
Officials are now under pressure to bring stalled developments in line with national urban planning goals, ensuring key infrastructure is in place as Morocco prepares to co-host the World Cup.
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