Marrakech has become one of the most Airbnb-saturated cities in Africa, fueling a growing housing crisis. By early 2026, the city had an estimated 9,600 to 21,400 active short-term rental (STR) listings, more than the number of classified hotel rooms. The boom in Airbnb-style rentals is driving up rents and limiting housing availability for local residents.
In 2025, Morocco welcomed 19.8 million international tourists, up from 17.4 million in 2024. Marrakech alone received about 4 million visitors and recorded 12 million overnight stays, more than a quarter of all nights spent nationwide, despite accounting for less than 5% of the population.
The STR boom unfolded in two phases. From 2015 to 2019, high-end riads and villas were listed mainly by wealthy owners. From 2022 to 2025, the market expanded to include ordinary apartments, often listed by small investors, diaspora families and individual landlords. By the end of 2025, about 76% of Airbnb listings were entire homes, compared with 24% private rooms.
The financial gap between long-term and short-term rentals is significant. A two-bedroom apartment in Gueliz or Hivernage rents long term for about MAD 4,500 to MAD 6,500 per month. The same unit listed on Airbnb can generate roughly $1,620 per month at 64% occupancy, even after fees and cleaning costs.
Strong demand and higher returns have pushed rents to record levels. One-bedroom furnished apartments in Gueliz now rent for between MAD 8,000 and MAD 12,000 per month, pricing out many local workers.
Rent increases for existing leases are capped at 8% every three years under Morocco’s Law No. 67-12. As a result, many families remain in apartments that no longer meet their needs, while turnover in the mid-range rental market has dropped sharply, from about 18% to between 6% and 8%.
In August 2023, the government introduced Decree 2.23.441 to regulate short-term rentals. The measure limits unlicensed rentals to 120 days per year and requires longer-term operators to obtain a license, pass safety inspections, register guests with authorities and pay tourist taxes.
Platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com are also required to share host data with tax authorities. However, enforcement has been slow. With fewer than 40 inspectors overseeing thousands of listings, many properties continue to operate outside the rules.
Tourism demand continues to rise, and Marrakech’s share of overnight stays is increasing, reinforcing financial incentives for landlords to shift properties to short-term rentals.
Cities such as Barcelona, Lisbon and Paris have introduced regulations to control STRs, including licensing caps, zoning restrictions and platform-enforced limits. Experts suggest Marrakech could adopt similar measures, combined with targeted taxes on STR revenue to help fund affordable housing.
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