With just days to go before the kickoff of the Africa Cup of Nations, the city of Fez has undergone a striking transformation. Morocco’s spiritual capital has been racing against the clock to modernize its infrastructure and prepare for the continental tournament, which begins on December 21.
The recent overhaul touched nearly every aspect of the city—from transportation systems and sports venues to public spaces. The goal: to ensure smooth traffic flow and a world-class experience for both visiting teams and fans.
A tailored transport strategy will be in place from December 22 to January 6, managed by the Société Fès Région Aménagements. The plan includes a dedicated fleet: 25 buses with 48 seats, 10 minibuses with 17 seats, and 5 VIP vehicles, all GPS-equipped for real-time tracking. The vehicles, branded with Africa Cup visuals on half their exteriors, will be limited to 250 kilometers per day and supervised by staff responsible for boarding and coordination.
This temporary setup is part of a much larger effort to modernize urban mobility in Fez. Just ahead of the tournament, the city will roll out a new fleet of 154 buses. Simultaneously, 1,200 bus stop poles—over half of them in urban areas—are being installed at a cost of 3.5 million dirhams.
Fez is also putting fan experience at the heart of its transformation. A new Fan Zone, paired with an exhibition space, has been constructed for over 42 million dirhams. The massive complex includes more than 30,000 square meters of reinforced concrete paving, multiple surface finishing techniques, and over 12,000 square meters of landscaped green areas. Enhanced public lighting ensures safety and ambiance after dark.
Downtown Fez has also gotten a facelift. A 12-million-dirham restoration program has revitalized building façades—cleaning surfaces, repairing cracks, and upgrading features with marble, granite, and modern fixtures. Waterproof lighting and energy-efficient LED projectors now highlight the architecture at night.
The city hasn’t overlooked its landscape either. Major thoroughfares now boast redesigned sidewalks in stamped concrete, while ornamental trees like Tipuanas and Jacarandas have been planted, watered by an automated irrigation system connected to a 50-cubic-meter water tank.
Two of the city’s iconic parks—Lalla Amina and Latin America Garden—have been fully renovated. Walking paths, lighting, and outdoor furniture have been updated to create welcoming public spaces for residents and visitors alike.
Athletic facilities have also received a major boost. The upgrades include new outdoor sports fields, a 2,000-square-meter running track, crossfit areas, and LED floodlighting. The indoor 11 January Sports Hall is undergoing a complete overhaul—featuring improved waterproofing, new electrical systems, surveillance cameras, vinyl flooring, and updated athletic equipment.
Beyond the tournament, these sweeping changes signal a long-term investment in the city’s future. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is serving not just as a sporting event, but as a powerful catalyst for sustainable development in Fez.
