Casablanca: Avenue Royale Project Secured with 2 Billion Dirhams Investment
After nearly twenty years of delays and repeated postponements, Casablanca’s flagship Avenue Royale project is finally gaining momentum. On Tuesday, the city council approved a strategic agreement with an allocation of 2 billion dirhams, paving the way for the realization of this major urban development.
The decision, adopted by 91 out of 92 councilors during an extraordinary session convened by the regional wali, ends the legal and financial deadlock that had stalled the project. It provides for the transfer of assets and responsibilities from SONADAC to the city council and the public company Casablanca Iskane et Équipements, which will oversee the project.
A project with strong social impact
At the heart of the initiative lies the relocation of nearly 16,000 families and 2,500 merchants, one of its most sensitive components. These households will be resettled in social housing units built by Casablanca Iskane et Équipements, in partnership with private developers selected through calls for expressions of interest. The relocation costs will be fully covered by the state and the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG), ensuring that municipal finances remain unaffected.
Land reorganization and new facilities
On the land side, SONADAC will transfer several plots and strategic assets free of charge to the city council: Souk Kriaa, Souk Laayoune, the Béchar El Khair land, the new Corniche site, and plots designated for public facilities in the Ennassim and Islane neighborhoods. At the same time, the company will provide a financial contribution of 250 million dirhams every six months until 2029, along with an immediate payment of 12.79 million dirhams to fast-track the first demolitions.
An urban and ecological showcase for Casablanca
The project’s ambition extends beyond land reorganization. Avenue Royale, which will link the Hassan II Mosque to Mohammed V Boulevard, is intended to become a prestigious axis and a landmark in architecture and landscape for Morocco’s economic capital. Its ecological centerpiece will be a 50-hectare urban park, set to become the city’s largest green space and to strengthen recreational offerings with a sustainable approach.
A symbolic project ahead of 2030
For Casablanca’s mayor, Nabila Rmili, the agreement marks “a historic moment”: “This long-delayed project will finally come to life during this mandate. It combines social resettlement, urban planning, and sustainable development, offering the city an unprecedented transformation.”
With implementation scheduled through 2029 and a total budget of 2 billion dirhams, the Avenue Royale project stands as one of the most important drivers of Casablanca’s modernization. It carries a major social, economic, and symbolic weight, as the city prepares to host the 2030 World Cup and assert its status as a showcase of modern Morocco.
Editorial team/le7tv
