Morocco has extended its Al Boraq high-speed train from Tangier-Casablanca to Marrakech, opening on October 18, 2026, ahead of FIFA World Cup 2030.
The 320 km/h train now connects Tangier to Marrakech in 3 hours, down from 7 hours by car. The $4 billion extension was built by French and Moroccan firms, with 90 percent local workers. Morocco is the only African country with high-speed rail.
King Mohammed VI inaugurated the line at Marrakech station, saying Morocco is ready for World Cup 2030 to be co-hosted with Spain and Portugal. Morocco will host 6 stadiums, with new 115,000 capacity Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca, the world's largest.
The high-speed line will move 8 million passengers yearly and reduce domestic flights. Tourists can now travel from Casablanca to Marrakech in 1 hour 30 minutes, boosting tourism which earned $12 billion in 2025.
Morocco also builds Africa's largest solar plant Noor in Ouarzazate powering trains. Plans exist to extend Al Boraq to Agadir and Fez by 2035, and eventually to link to Algeria and Tunisia for trans-Maghreb rail.
Experts say Morocco's infrastructure boom makes it Africa's gateway to Europe.
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