The city of Dakhla is the city of leisure and business tourism or even “patriotic” tourism. It is a city of diplomacy, kitesurf, and dune landscapes. The city of Dakhla has established itself, over the years, as a model of success in the southern provinces.
Thanks to its geographical location, in the first place, it offers important advantages for the city of Dakhla. This makes it the pearl of tourism in the Kingdom, the construction of a conference centre 10 years ago, and a large hotel capacity, has developed remarkably in less than 5 years thanks to more than 26 weekly connections served by 5 airlines, which link Dakhla with all of Morocco.
These natural assets and others make Dakhla-Oued Eddahab a tourist destination of national and international choice.
In addition, major structuring projects have been launched to ensure the socio-economic growth of the region, in addition to the expressway which starts from Tiznit and extends over 1,055 kilometres to Dakhla, the future Dakhla Atlantic Port, which will be backed by an industrial logistics zone.
Dakhla development and diplomatic centre
In addition, no less than 22 hotels are currently under construction, which will almost double the region's hotel capacity, currently estimated at 1,825 beds taking into account classified establishments. Furthermore, the connection of the national electricity network in Dakhla was completed after six years of work and a budget of 2.5 billion dirhams (232 million euros).
These concrete advances in this region have enabled the safe and rapid installation of consulates and diplomatic representations over the last four years. The city hosts various consulates of various African and international countries, and it has hosted a branch of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry since March 2019. There are no less than 18 countries with diplomatic representation in Dakhla, in addition to the 12 others in Laâyoune, still in the Moroccan Sahara.
Dakhla attracts sea sports lovers
Dakhla is the pearl of the desert, a paradise between sea and dunes, and a haven of peace at the end of the world. With the unique climatic conditions, Dakhla is the place where if you come for a week's vacation, you are sure to be able to kitesurf every day. It is extremely rare to arrive and not find any wind. There are more than 300 days of wind per year.
The only two months marked by the absence of wind: December and January. However, from February until November, it is windy all the time, according to kitesurf lovers.
The Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region has established itself over the years as a favorite destination for board sports enthusiasts and professionals. It regularly hosts major international sporting events, which have given it significant notoriety on a national and global scale. As a result, it is increasingly whetting the appetite of tourist operators.
In addition to the wind, the climate is temperate, a double advantage very appreciated by water sports enthusiasts. When you have 300 days of wind in Denmark or Sweden, with water at 5°, no one goes there. In Dakhla, you have water of 20°C to 25°C all year round. The climatic conditions are therefore very favorable. The geographical positioning too, since the city is at the gateway to Europe. With the Strait of Gibraltar, we are almost on the border with Europe. A direct flight from Paris lasts around 4 or 4.5 hours.
Several partners are concentrating their efforts to connect Dakhla to other cities in the Kingdom as well as to the other side of the Mediterranean.
Dakhla is a regional investment hub
The decision of the United States to recognize the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara and the advantageous geographical position of the city has pushed more to invest in Dakhla, as it is an entry point for regional and continental connection.
Driven by a development program worth around ten billion dirhams in which tourism occupies a central place, the city of Dakhla has experienced real growth in recent years.
The region of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab is promising with enormous and multiple economic and development potential, alongside its geographical location which makes it a gateway from Morocco to its African depths. Hydrogen will allow Dakhla and Morocco to become a key player in this sector; The priority given to the development of Dakhla and its surroundings is bearing fruit, even if efforts remain to be made to attract talent and increase air connections.
The phenomenal growth and development of Dakhla in recent years cannot be explained by the sole craze for kitesurfing or the presence of spectacular landscapes. They are above all the result of a strong royal desire to make this region of the Sahara, and more generally the southern provinces, a real economic hub and a gateway to the kingdom on the rest of the continent.
The realization of numerous structuring projects in the region, ranging from the titanic port of Dakhla Atlantique to the Tiznit-Dakhla express road via industrial and logistics zones near the border posts of Bir Guendouz and Guerguerat. Significant assets, added to an enormous potential for the production of renewable energies (wind, solar) which should make it possible to attract Moroccan and foreign investors. The region of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab presents an economic offer that is not confined to one sector without another. The fisheries resources provide the raw material for the food industry. At the same time, the reserves of water offer the possibility of the emergence of an agricultural sector, and the geographical location makes the area attractive for desert and sea tourism, in addition to the growth of the services sector whose development has been linked to that of the main production sectors.
This region has been framed by the New Development Model of the Southern provinces, which poses additional challenges to its local projects. This region today promotes advocacy for the success of the development choice and for the existence of a political will to experiment with a new mode of management that gives the local population the possibility of managing their domain. And through the rules of democracy and elections, the region gives those who direct it the legitimacy to speak on behalf of the population and on behalf of its demands and choices.