Morocco has issued new decrees authorizing the expropriation of land for the 430-kilometer Marrakech–Kenitra high-speed rail line, a key infrastructure project launched in April and slated for completion before the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
According to the latest issue of the Official Gazette, the Ministry of Transport approved multiple land transfers across three regions, Rabat–Salé–Kenitra, Casablanca–Settat, and Marrakech–Safi, to make way for the expansion of the national high-speed rail network.
The decrees empower the head of the national railway operator, ONCF, to proceed with expropriations under the 2023 royal decree governing public acquisition procedures.
In Rabat–Salé–Kenitra, land in Skhirat and Rabat’s Agdal district will be repurposed for construction, while similar authorizations cover properties in Mohammedia under the Casablanca–Settat region.
The orders concern both agricultural plots and built-up properties, some under mortgages or legal claims, with compensation to be processed through ONCF.
The Marrakech–Kenitra line represents the second phase of Morocco’s high-speed rail program, following the Tangier–Casablanca route inaugurated in 2018.
The new segment, estimated at 53 billion dirhams ($5.1 billion), aims to link the country’s main economic and tourist centers, cutting travel time between Casablanca and Marrakech to under two hours.
ONCF officials said construction will follow a strict timeline to align with World Cup logistics. The project is also central to Morocco’s broader transport modernization strategy, which includes upgrading urban mobility and integrating African and Euro-Mediterranean connectivity.
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