The major expressway linking Tiznit to Dakhla has entered a new chapter in its history. Officially renamed the “Donald Trump Highway,” this landmark infrastructure project has prompted a reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly expressed his gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for what he described as an exceptional gesture of recognition.
Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, President Trump said he was deeply honored by the decision.
“I thank His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, for this tremendous honor. I hope to have the opportunity soon to travel this remarkable highway that connects an essential part of the Kingdom,” he wrote.
His message was accompanied by a video highlighting the features of the 1,055-kilometer strategic highway, presented as one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects undertaken in Morocco in recent decades.
A Lifeline for Morocco’s Southern Provinces
The video emphasizes the pivotal role of the expressway in transforming the economy of Morocco’s Southern Provinces. Stretching from Tiznit through Guelmim and Laâyoune to Dakhla, the highway strengthens the Kingdom’s territorial continuity, significantly reduces travel times, and facilitates trade between the country’s northern and southern regions.
It also underscores the road’s importance in advancing King Mohammed VI’s Atlantic Initiative, which aims to provide the Sahel countries with strategic access to the Atlantic Ocean, further positioning Morocco as a key logistical gateway linking Africa, Europe, and global markets.
A Tribute to the Historic Partnership Between Rabat and Washington
The audiovisual presentation also highlights the enduring relationship between Morocco and the United States, a partnership spanning more than two centuries.
It recalls that Morocco became the first country in the world to recognize the independence of the United States in 1777, and that the Moroccan-American Treaty of Peace and Friendship remains the oldest unbroken diplomatic treaty in American history.
From this perspective, the Donald Trump Highway is portrayed as a new symbol of the longstanding friendship between Rabat and Washington, while also representing a corridor for cooperation, economic development, and greater connectivity with the African continent.
A Landmark Investment in Morocco’s Development
Beyond its symbolic significance, the highway represents one of the largest road infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Morocco.
Built to international standards, the expressway required an investment estimated at 9 to 10 billion Moroccan dirhams. It was opened in successive phases before the completion of its final section in January 2025, creating an uninterrupted connection between Tiznit and Dakhla.
The project forms part of the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, launched by King Mohammed VI in 2015 to strengthen the economic integration of Morocco’s Saharan regions, stimulate investment, and modernize transportation infrastructure.
World-Class Engineering
The route includes 16 major engineering structures, all designed and built according to international technical standards.
Among them is the longest bridge ever constructed in Morocco, now one of the flagship landmarks of the new highway. These structures have already demonstrated their resilience during the heavy rainfall recently experienced in the Southern Provinces, ensuring uninterrupted traffic despite severe weather conditions.
Supporting Economic Growth
To accompany the region’s economic expansion, several modern service areas have been developed along the route.
Dedicated facilities for the handling, unloading, processing, and marketing of seafood products have also been established to support one of the Atlantic provinces’ most important economic sectors.
The expressway is divided into three main sections:
- Tiznit-Guelmim: 114 kilometers, completed at the end of 2024.
- Guelmim-Laâyoune: 436 kilometers, requiring numerous engineering structures to cross the region’s major wadis.
- Laâyoune-Dakhla: Nearly 500 kilometers, achieved through the upgrading and widening of National Road No. 1.
A Strategic Corridor for the Future
Thanks to this new infrastructure, freight transportation is now faster, travel has become more efficient, and road safety has been significantly enhanced through modern signage and improved traffic flow.
The expressway also serves as a vital catalyst for the major development projects underway in Morocco’s Southern Provinces, particularly the future Dakhla Atlantic Port, which is expected to become one of the leading logistics hubs on Africa’s Atlantic coast.
With its new designation as the “Donald Trump Highway,” the expressway has acquired an additional international dimension. President Donald Trump’s public message of gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI reflects the symbolic importance of the decision while drawing attention to a project that embodies Morocco’s development ambitions, the integration of its Southern Provinces, and the enduring strength of the historic partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States.
Abderrazzak Boussaid / Le7tv