Morocco, officially known as the Kingdom of Morocco, is an Arab country located in western North Africa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
As they are separated by the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco enjoys an excellent strategic location bordered by Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south. Its population, according to the 2014 census, reached 338,482,42 million people.
The total area of the Kingdom is 446,300 square kilometers, so follow us for all the details on our always distinguished article.
The capital of Morocco
- The capital of Morocco is the city of Rabat, according to the normal Moroccan pronunciation, by stressing the rā, opening the b, and calming the ta.
- It can be said that it is the city of Rabat al-Fath, and it is an example of a vibrant capital with a unique style and historical heritage.
- Because of its amazing landscape.
- It is also a scene for effective and diverse economic activities because it also has the characteristics of balanced urban development.
- In addition, it has the characteristics of balanced urban development, so it is natural for officials to plan to increase its growth.
- As well as updating its perspective on urban and environmental progress, to be compatible with the city’s political trends and its economic role.
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إقرأ أيضا:أفضل وأغلى ٢٥ فندق في دبي للعوائل انظر حولكThe reason for naming the capital of Morocco by this name
- The city was initially called Mahdia, because the buildings overlooking the water in the city of Mahdia in Tunisia are very similar.
- Also, linguistically, Rabat refers to both the citadel and the location of the army base, and in both cases, Rabat is the reason for naming the capital.
During the reign of Caliph Abd al-Mu’min bin Ali, Rabat was a gathering place for invading armies.- When his son, Khalifa Abu Yaqoub Yusuf bin Abdul-Mumen bin Ali Al-Kazakhstani, followed him.
- It was called the Ribat al-Fath, then with the passage of time the word al-Fath was deleted.
- It was named by its current name, the capital, Rabat.
Location is the capital of Morocco
- Rabat is located in the northwest of the country on a large piece of land on the Atlantic Ocean, and it is located on the left bank of the mouth of the Bouregreg River.
- Which separates it from the old city of Salé, and the estuary forms a joint endowment between two neighboring cities, “Rabat and Salé.”
- Its mouth is famous for its biological richness and the diversity of its natural expressions, and the city’s coordinates range from north 2° 34 to west 50° 6.
- It also overlooks the Atlantic coast, and borders the city of Salé to the east and Casablanca to the west.
Population, capital of Morocco
- The population of Rabat, according to 2014 statistics, was 577,827 people, and the vast majority of the population believe in Islam.
- There are multiple sects, and the city also includes many Jews in addition to the presence of the Berber language.
- The population also speaks Arabic as an official language and French, which is taught in school in Arabic.
Climate of the capital of Morocco
- The city of Rabat is characterized by warmth and dryness in summer and winter, due to its geographical location in the coastal region.
- Humidity is relatively high, and the average temperature in summer reaches 22 degrees Celsius.
- While the average temperature in winter reaches 13 degrees Celsius, rainfall is not frequent in the city.
- Therefore, the average annual rainfall reaches 554.9 mm.
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إقرأ أيضا:فندق الجبل الأخضر في سلطنة عمان انظر حولكEconomy of the capital of the West
- The strategic location of the city of Rabat made it an important point of contact between the Eastern Arab region and the outside world.
- This makes it an important port for import and export, which has a positive impact on the economic prosperity of the city.
- The most important export commodities are citrus fruits, fish, phosphates, fertilizers, and others, excluding trade.
- The city also relies heavily on industry, and is famous for the textile industry and some traditional industries.
- (Including wood, leather and pottery).
History of the capital of Morocco
- The city was founded by Abd al-Mu’min al-Koumi in the twelfth century, with the aim of using it as a headquarters to prepare for the Spanish military campaign.
- Hence the name Rabat Al-Fatah. After the battle, the Moors left Spain flocking from a small town called Honagos.
- They settled in the region, and many Andalusians flocked in. Since then, the war between the Andalusians and the Spanish continued.
- The region also suffered from political unrest and the spread of piracy throughout the coast, and in the eighteenth century the city gained a good reputation.
- Which led to the prosperity of trade in the city, especially in the port of Rabat, where many Europeans flocked to the city engaged in trade.
- In 1912, French General Hubert Lyautey (Hubert Lyautey) tried to build a stronger camp to defend the French colony.
- He seized the city and turned it into his capital, and the French occupation of the city and the region continued.
- Until the second day of March 1956, when the Kingdom of Morocco and all its cities gained complete independence.
- Sultan Muhammad V assumed power and established a democratic kingdom with Rabat as its capital.
Tourism in Rabat, the capital of Morocco
- Rabat has many wonderful tourist attractions, as well as historical cultural monuments that can be traced back to the ancient civilization on the land of Rabat.
- In addition to the wonderful beaches and coastal views.
- This made it a popular destination for tourists and in 2012, Rabat was listed as a World Heritage Site.
- By UNESCO because of the buildings it contains of heritage and historical value, the most prominent of which is the Hassan II Mosque.
- Which dates back to the year 1184 AD and the city’s distinctive doors and walls.
Landmarks of Rabat, the capital of Morocco
Kasbah of the Udayas
- The Kasbah of the Oudayas was originally a fortified castle built by the Almoravids, to fight the Barghawat tribe, and its importance increased during the Almohad era.
- The Almohads made it a link to the Bouregreg Valley to launch military operations against Spain.
- It is called Mahdia after the Almohads. It was ignored, until the Moors from Andalusia settled there and restored life to it by strengthening it with solid walls.
- And making it the headquarters of the historical state of Burgrig during the Alawite era, Fadia Castle was subjected.
- It underwent many changes and reforms between 1757 and 1789 and between 1790 and 1792.
- This place has a long and unique history, especially in the buildings that make up the Kasbah of the Oudayas.
- In addition to the mosque, the Al-Atiq Mosque, the Almohad Wall, and the Eternal Gate (the Great Wall Gate) are considered symbols of Almohad architecture.
- As for the upper buildings, they are clearly visible in the walls of Rashidiya, the Emiri Palace to the west, and its military installations, such as the Saqqara Tower.
Hassan Tower
- It is located in Rabat and is one of the famous and distinguished historical buildings. It was built by Sultan Yaqub al-Zir Mansur al-Muwahid.
- It is also considered one of the largest mosques during his reign, but this ambitious plan was halted after his death in 1199 AD.
- It was destroyed by the earthquake that occurred in 1755.
- Proving the influence of the magnificent form of the original architecture of this mosque, the length of this mosque reaches 180 meters.
- Its width also reaches 140 meters, and the minaret is one of the three sisters of the Koutoubia Minaret, in Marrakesh. Giralda of Seville bears witness to the existence and size of this mosque.
- It is square in shape and towers in the clouds, reaching a height of 44 metres. It is curved from the inside and has a twisted inner beginning.
- It leads to the upper part of the silo.
- It passes through six rooms and forms layers, and its four facades are decorated with various decorations and inscriptions on carved stone.
- This is in the Andalusian-Moroccan style from the twelfth century.
- Also, every summer, under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, the Mawazine Festival of Culture and Arts is held in the capital.
- The festival attracts artistic talent from all over the world, and is considered a major tourist and economic attraction for the city.
Unification of the city of Rabat and Salé
- During the time of the Saadians in 1609, Muslims coming from the Andalusian region were allowed to reside in the city of Rabat.
- During this period, the Andalusians fortified the city with fortified walls, known today as the Andalusian Wall.
- In the same era, during the time of the Saadians, the two cities of Rabat and Salé were unified, and this was done under the rule of the statelet of Bouregreg.
- Which was created by the Moriscos, and the Mujahideen of the region have been known from then until now for their maritime activity.
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إقرأ أيضا:السياحة الداخلية في معابد الأقصر وأسوان انظر حولكWhat is the capital of Morocco before Rabat?
- Before Rabat became the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, it was Fas city It is the former capital.
- Fez was established as a capital in the Middle Ages and witnessed significant cultural and economic development.
- Hence, Rabat was chosen as the new capital of the Kingdom in the second half of the twentieth century, after independence from French colonialism.
- Rabat was chosen because of its strategic location and easy access to the coast.
Religion of Morocco
- The main religion in the Kingdom of Morocco is Islam.
- Most of Morocco’s population embraces Islam as a religion, and this religion includes various Islamic trends such as Sunni and Shiite. Islam plays an important role in culture and daily life in Morocco, and mosques and Islamic institutions exist in various cities and towns.
- Besides Islam, there is also a presence of other religious minorities in Morocco, including Christianity and Judaism. Morocco is considered a religiously diverse environment, and respects religious tolerance and freedom to practice religion in the country.
Moroccan currency
- The official currency in the Kingdom of Morocco is the Moroccan dirham, symbolized by the symbol “D.M.” Or “DH”. The Moroccan dirham is divided into 100 centimes.
The role of Rabat as the capital of Morocco at the present time
As the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, Rabat plays a vital role in the political, economic and cultural life of the country today. Here are some of Rabat’s main roles and functions as the capital of Morocco:
- Seat of Government: Rabat is the seat of the central government in Morocco, and hosts government institutions and executive authorities.
- Cultural Capital: Rabat includes museums and cultural centers that promote Moroccan arts, heritage and culture.
- International Relations: Rabat hosts embassies and diplomatic representations of foreign countries, and contributes to strengthening international relations.
- Education and Research: Rabat includes universities and research institutions that play an important role in developing education and scientific research.
- Economy: Rabat forms an important part of the Moroccan economy, where companies and economic institutions are based.
- Political Decisions: Rabat plays a major role in national political decision-making and policy formulation.
- Infrastructure: Rabat is a center for infrastructure development in Morocco, including transportation and urban infrastructure.
- Tourism: Rabat is located near the major tourist coastal city of Casablanca and constitutes a starting point for exploring the tourist attractions in Morocco.
The most important cities of Morocco
Morocco is a country that includes many diverse and important cities. Here is a list of some of the major cities in Morocco:
- Rabat: The capital of the Kingdom of Morocco and the seat of the national government.
- Casablanca: The largest city in Morocco, the most important seaport and commercial center.
- Marrakesh: A popular tourist city famous for its Old Medina (Red City) and many cultural and artistic attractions.
- Fez: A historical and cultural city considered a center of education and arts in Morocco.
- Tangier: A coastal city considered a gateway to Morocco and distinguished by its strategic location.
- Agadir: A coastal city famous for its beaches and water sports.
- Tetouan: a historical city located near the Mediterranean Sea.
Frequently asked questions about the capital of Morocco
What is the capital of Morocco?
The capital of the Kingdom of Morocco is Rabat.
What are the most important cities in Morocco after Rabat?
After Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh, Fez, Tangier and Agadir are among the most important cities in Morocco.
What is the official language in Morocco?
The official language in Morocco is Arabic, and the Amazigh language also has official status. French is the second language and is widely used in education and administration.
What currency is used in Morocco?
The currency used in Morocco is the Moroccan dirham.
What are the most important tourist attractions in Rabat?
Some of Rabat’s notable tourist attractions include the Kasbah, the Medina of Rabat (Old City), and the Hassan II Complex of Arts and Sciences.
What are the popular tourist destinations in Morocco?
Morocco contains many famous tourist destinations such as Marrakesh, Fez, Chefchaouen, Tangier, the Sahara (sandy desert), and the Atlas Mountains.