A new DoubleTree by Hilton hotel and residential complex is planned for Nador’s Marchica Lagoon after a partnership agreement was signed between Marchica Med, HeniPay Holding N.V., and Hilton Worldwide.
The project will be built at the Atalayoun site overlooking the lagoon. It will include an upscale hotel and premium residential units designed to meet international luxury standards.
The complex will feature international restaurants, retail outlets, swimming facilities, and wellness and spa centres.
Hilton Worldwide will manage the development under a 20-year management and franchise contract. The agreement aims to use Hilton’s global distribution network to attract international tourists to Nador.
The project forms part of wider plans to transform the Marchica Lagoon into a major tourism destination and encourage private investment in Morocco’s Oriental region.
Marchica Med says development will follow a sustainability-first approach because of the lagoon’s ecological importance. The aim is to restore the natural environment while creating a modern tourism offer.
A start date for construction has not been confirmed. Work is expected to begin after final technical and regulatory approvals.
The development fits into Morocco’s Generation Med and Vision 2030 strategies for tourism and regional growth.
The Marchica Lagoon, one of the Mediterranean’s largest salt lagoons, has undergone years of environmental clean-up after decades of pollution. It is now being developed into seven zones. Atalayoun is planned as the project’s “Green City”, focused on golf, sailing and eco-living.
The hotel project comes as major infrastructure upgrades continue in northern Morocco. The Nador West Med port is expected to become a key maritime hub, increasing demand for business travel and high-end accommodation. Expansion at Nador El Aroui Airport is also expected to improve access for European visitors.
Hilton has expanded rapidly across Morocco in recent years, moving beyond Marrakesh and Casablanca into cities including Tangier, Al Hoceima and now Nador. International hotel investment is often seen as a signal encouraging further foreign investment.
Nador has traditionally relied on remittances and cross-border trade. The 20-year Hilton contract is expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, particularly in hospitality and maintenance, and support local supply chains for agriculture and services.
