Morocco Secures $316 Million AfDB Loan For 2030 World Cup Prep
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI
THE African Development Bank has approved a €270 million ($316 million) loan to help Morocco modernise its airports as part of preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The funding will support the expansion of passenger terminals and the upgrade of critical aviation equipment at airports in Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fez.
The AfDB said the investment is designed to ease capacity constraints at some of Morocco’s busiest airports and enhance their ability to handle increased traffic during the World Cup, which the country will jointly host with Spain and Portugal. The improvements are expected to strengthen Morocco’s position as a leading aviation and tourism hub in North Africa.
Morocco’s government has committed to a wider airport development programme valued at 38 billion dirhams, aiming to more than double national passenger capacity to 80 million annually by 2030. The push reflects surging tourism demand, with the country welcoming 18 million visitors by November 2025, exceeding its previous annual record.
The latest loan brings AfDB’s total financial support to Morocco in 2025 to €1.3 billion. Alongside airport upgrades, the kingdom is also expanding the fleet of Royal Air Maroc to boost connectivity and reinforce Casablanca’s role as a strategic hub linking Africa, Europe and the Americas.
