Rehabilitation of Essaouira's Medina at 97% complete

A recent meeting in Essaouira, Morocco, brought together local officials, representatives of external services, and community leaders to assess the progress of a major urban rehabilitation project. The project, initiated under the guidance of King Mohammed VI, aims to preserve Essaouira’s historical heritage while improving living conditions and boosting tourism.

Governor Adil El Maliki highlighted the significant achievements made so far, including the rehabilitation of 900 homes, restoration of 333 buildings, and demolition of 123 structures. He emphasized the project’s social dimension, ensuring that families can remain in their renovated homes and benefit from new infrastructure and services.

Municipal Council President Tarik Ottmani underscored the project’s importance in revitalizing the medina’s economy and creating new opportunities for residents. He noted that completed projects have already improved the urban and social environment.

Abdessamad Ennouhi, director of the Al Omrane Essaouira-Chichaoua agency, provided a detailed update on the project’s progress, including the completion of 19 out of 27 planned projects. Ongoing initiatives include the construction of a nursery, service center, women’s home, and youth center.

Amina Lamghari, a member of the project’s scientific committee, discussed the technical challenges encountered during the rehabilitation process, such as humidity, capillarity problems, and erosion. She emphasized the need for a careful approach to preserve the medina’s unique architecture while modernizing infrastructure.

Other partners, including the provincial delegate of tourism, highlighted the contributions of their respective services to the project and the positive impact it has had on the medina’s tourism and economic attractiveness.

The rehabilitation project, benefiting 13,000 residents, focuses on urban space rehabilitation, historical heritage restoration, social service access, and tourism promotion