Morocco Overview

GENERAL

Official name of the state

Kingdom of Morocco.

Capital

Rabat.

Geography

According to pharmacylib, Morocco is located on the western tip of North Africa and is bordered by Algeria to the east and Western Sahara to the south. The Atlas Mountains stretch through the middle of the country, sloping down to the fertile plains and sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast. The Middle Atlas rises from the south to over 3000 m and is overgrown with pine, oak and cedar trees, there is a lot of pastureland and small lakes. The Rif Mountains stretch along the north coast. Also on the north coast are the ports of Ceuta (Sebta) and Melilla, which are administered by Spain.

Government

Constitutional monarchy since 1972. Constitution from 1972, last amendment 1996. Bicameral parliament: National Assembly with 395 and upper house with 270 members. Independent since 1956 (former French and Spanish protectorate).
Western Sahara: The political status of the Western Sahara is still unclear. The Sahara Democratic Arab Republic is recognized by 29 member countries of the Organization of African Unity and 77 countries worldwide.

Head of state

King Mohammed VI, since 1999.

Head of government

Saadeddine El Othmani, since March 2017.

Electricity

220 V, 50 Hz.

Time zone

Western European Time: CET -1 (CET +2 from July 1 to October 29, 2017)

MONEY

Currency

1 Moroccan dirham (Dh) = 100 centimes. Currency abbreviation: Dh, MAD (ISO code). Banknotes are in circulation to the value of 200, 100, 50, 25 and 20 Dh; Coins in denominations of 10, 5, 2, 1 and 1/2 Dh as well as 20 and 10 centimes.

Credit cards

The larger international credit cards are accepted in larger hotels, shops and restaurants. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
Cash can also be withdrawn from ATMs in larger cities with credit cards. However, incorrect bookings at ATMs in Morocco with German credit cards have increased recently.

ATMs

ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
Cash can be withdrawn from ATMs in larger cities with an ec / Maestro card and PIN number. However, incorrect bookings at ATMs in Morocco with German ec / Maestro cards have increased recently. ec / Maestro cards are also accepted in some shops.

Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank customer card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the options for using their card from their bank prior to departure.

Bank opening times

Winter: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-11.15 a.m. and 2.15 p.m.-4.30 p.m.
Summer: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-2.30 p.m.
Ramadan: 9.30 a.m.-2 p.m.

At international airports and in larger hotels also on Sat and Sun 9 am-1pm.

Foreign exchange regulations

The import and export of the local currency is not permitted, but up to 1,000 Dh per entry or exit is tolerated. The import and export of foreign currencies is unrestricted, but a declaration must be made from an equivalent value of 100,000 Dh.

The exchange of the local currency in foreign currencies is permitted as follows:
Stay up to 48 hours: 100% of the amount exchanged on arrival.
Stay longer than 48 hours: 50% of the amount exchanged on arrival.

Currency Exchange

Moroccan dirhams can only be purchased in Morocco. Currency exchange should only take place in official exchange offices, which can be recognized by their golden logo, and at hotel receptions. The exchange is free of charge and you receive a receipt, which must be kept until you leave Morocco in order to guarantee the return of any dirhams that are not required.

LANGUAGE

Overview

The official languages are Arabic and the Berber language Tamazight. Other Berber languages are spoken. The language of business and education is French, which is spoken primarily in business, government and administrative circles. Spanish is also spoken in the north, and English is often spoken in the cities and tourist centers.

Morocco Overview

NIGHTLIFE

Introduction

Morocco has a wide variety of entertainment options, including casinos, discos, restaurants and nightclubs, where belly dancers often perform. Modern night clubs can be found in all cities and resorts. There are also casinos in Marrakech and Agadir. Traditional entertainment such as B. Folklore dancing is offered in every city.

CULTURE

Religion

Mostly Islamic (98.7%); Jewish and Christian minorities.

Social rules of conduct

Shake hands to greet you. Many of the politeness and manners are of French origin. Everyday clothing is accepted everywhere; Swimwear and shorts, however, belong on the beach.

Smoking is very common, and offering cigarettes to each other is quite common. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings such as supermarkets and offices.

Photography: Public facilities such as police buildings, courts or even police officers may not be photographed.

Tip: Although the service charge is usually included in hotel and restaurant bills, an additional tip of 5-10% is expected. Taxi drivers, hairdressers, ushers and other service providers also expect a tip.

CLIMATE

Best travel time

The coast has a warm Mediterranean climate almost all year round, while the winter months can get cooler and more humid in the north. The best travel time for beach vacationers starts in April and ends in November. Inland it is hotter, drier and similar to the continental climate. In the south of the country there is a desert climate (hot and dry with particularly strong nocturnal cooling during the months of December and January). In the lowlands, the cooler months from October to April are very popular with visitors. During this time it is pleasantly warm to hot, with around 30 ° C during the day and around 15 ° C at night.

COUNTRY DATA

Area code +212 Area (sqkm) 710850 Population 35121465 Population density (per sqkm) 47 Population in 2017 Member of the EU No main emergency number 15