A new five-star Hilton resort is set to be built in the northern Moroccan city of Nador after developers received a building permit for the 585 million dirham ($60m) project. State-owned developer Marchica Med announced on 3 November that the permit had been granted for the DoubleTree by Hilton Marina Nador, which will be built on the Atalayoun peninsula, overlooking the Marchica lagoon.
Construction is expected to start shortly, with the resort due to open in 2029.
The project is backed by Dutch-German investment firm HenriPay Holding N.V. (HPH), which is investing more than 585 million dirhams, including the cost of the land.
The development will include a five-star hotel with 120 rooms and 160 luxury branded apartments. It will also have restaurants, conference rooms, swimming pools, a spa and wellness centre, recreational areas and underground parking.
The resort will be developed and operated by Maroc SAS HOL Nador, a Moroccan subsidiary of HPH. The company has signed an exclusive 20-year agreement with Hilton Worldwide to manage the property.
The resort will be located opposite Atalayoun Marina, near the Golf Academy. It is expected to increase the supply of high-end accommodation in the Marchica lagoon area.
The development comes as the region prepares for the opening of the nearby Nador West Med port, a major infrastructure project designed to establish the Oriental region as an industrial and maritime hub.
The port is expected to attract international businesses and investors, while the Hilton resort will provide accommodation for tourists and business travellers.
The project has changed since Marchica Med and HPH signed an initial agreement in July 2024. At the time, the planned investment exceeded 800 million dirhams and involved a four-star hotel with 130 rooms.
The revised plan has a lower investment budget but upgrades the hotel to five stars and adds 160 branded apartments.
The opening date has also been pushed back by a year, from the original target of 2028 to 2029.
HPH is listed on the Düsseldorf and Frankfurt stock exchanges. The company has real estate and tourism investments in Germany and the Canary Islands, and works with international hotel groups including Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and NH Hotels.
