Operation Marhaba 2026 ended on Tuesday at Tanger Med port as the final Moroccans living abroad (MREs) boarded ships bound for Europe. The operation began on 10 June under the effective chairmanship of King Mohammed VI. It brought together several organisations and public services to help MREs with reception, guidance, healthcare and boarding during their journeys.
Support teams were deployed across the port throughout the operation to assist travellers from their arrival through to boarding. Medical services were also available to passengers who needed care.
Tuesday’s traffic was relatively light compared with the peak period in August, when Tanger Med saw some of its busiest days of the summer.
More than 3.53 million MREs entered Morocco by sea and air during the peak summer period. Tanger Med handled more than a third of maritime arrivals, helped by its links with major European ports including Algeciras and Tarifa.
At the height of the August rush, the port handled more than 31,000 travellers and 8,600 vehicles in a single day.
The operation was coordinated by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and involved thousands of social workers, medical staff and security personnel at ports, airports and motorway rest areas.
Several MREs said they were satisfied with their stay in Morocco and the conditions of their return to Europe. Some highlighted the organisation of the boarding process and the clarity of instructions at the port.
The departure of the final passengers marks the end of another Marhaba operation, after weeks of measures aimed at making travel easier for Moroccans returning to and from Europe.
