Rabat, Dec 12, 2025 – Morocco is embarking on one of its most ambitious infrastructure expansions in decades, with plans to open two new deepwater ports on its Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Operations are scheduled to begin at Nador West Med in 2026 and at Dakhla in 2028, part of a national strategy to expand energy, mineral, and green hydrogen trade.
Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka confirmed the projects, noting that both ports are designed to replicate the operational scale and industrial influence of Tanger Med, Africa’s largest port. The expansion aims to strengthen Morocco’s role as a logistical bridge between Africa, Europe, and global shipping routes.
Nador West Med, under construction on the Mediterranean, will be the first to open. Planned as an integrated industrial hub, it will initially offer 800 hectares of development space, with long-term capacity to expand to 5,000 hectares. The facility will host Morocco’s first liquefied natural gas terminal through a floating storage and regasification unit, connected by pipeline to industrial centers in the northwest. This LNG link is central to Morocco’s efforts to reduce reliance on coal, transition toward cleaner fuels, and secure energy for fast-growing manufacturing zones.
The scale of Nador West Med positions it as more than a maritime gateway. Its industrial park is expected to surpass the zones surrounding Tanger Med, which by 2024 hosted more than 1,400 companies employing 130,000 people in sectors ranging from automotive and aeronautics to agri-food, textiles, and renewable energy technologies. Extending this industrialization model eastward through Nador offers Morocco additional capacity to attract manufacturers seeking proximity to European markets.
On the Atlantic coast, the Dakhla deepwater port is taking shape as a billion-dollar anchor project in the disputed Western Sahara region. At 23 meters deep, it will be Morocco’s deepest port, capable of handling vessels supporting heavy industries such as mineral processing and bulk cargo shipping. The project includes 6,000 hectares allocated for industrial activity and 5,200 hectares earmarked for farmland irrigated through desalinated water. Its design reflects Morocco’s strategy to establish Dakhla as a logistics and export platform for landlocked Sahel states that face high transport costs and limited port access.
Beyond conventional cargo, both Nador West Med and Dakhla will feature dedicated quays for exporting green hydrogen once large-scale production begins. Morocco is positioning itself as a future supplier of green hydrogen and green ammonia to Europe, leveraging its abundant solar and wind resources and attracting international investors seeking secure supply routes. Hydrogen-ready infrastructure is central to this plan, particularly as the European Union accelerates demand for low-carbon fuels.
The two new ports will join Tanger Med and Jorf Lasfar, Morocco’s Atlantic hub for energy, phosphates, and bulk cargo, as the country’s third and fourth deepwater facilities. Together, they form a growing network aligned with Morocco’s broader strategy to modernize logistics, expand industrial capacity, and integrate African trade more tightly with global markets.
The government is also studying a potential port in Tan-Tan in partnership with green hydrogen developers, signaling that port-led industrialization is becoming a long-term national policy rather than a single investment cycle.
Morocco’s port expansion comes amid rising regional demand for reliable deepwater infrastructure capable of handling both traditional commodities and emerging energy carriers. As global shipping patterns evolve and Europe accelerates its energy transition, Morocco is positioning itself to capture new flows of LNG, minerals, and green hydrogen. The opening of Nador West Med in 2026 and Dakhla in 2028 marks the next phase of this shift, reinforcing the country’s role as a maritime and industrial gateway between Africa and the wider world.