Dakhla welcomed more visitors in the first four months of 2026, with overnight stays rising 30% from a year earlier. Classified tourist accommodation establishments recorded 170,000 overnight stays by the end of April, according to the Tourism Observatory.
The city made up 1% of the more than 14 million overnight stays recorded across the country during the same period.
Hotels and other classified accommodation in Dakhla also got busier. The occupancy rate reached 63% by the end of April, up 14 percentage points from a year earlier.
April alone saw 51,000 overnight stays, an 18% increase compared with April 2025. The occupancy rate reached 72%, also up 14 percentage points.
Across the country, classified tourist accommodation recorded more than 14 million overnight stays by the end of April, up 9% year on year. The national occupancy rate stood at 55%, one percentage point higher than a year earlier.
The figures show Dakhla is growing much faster than the national average.
The city has become one of the world’s best-known destinations for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Strong winds throughout most of the year attract both holidaymakers and professional athletes. International competitions have also helped bring more visitors.
Tourism has expanded beyond watersports. New lagoon resorts, desert camps and eco tourism projects have widened the city’s appeal.
Better transport links have also supported the growth. Dakhla Airport has added more flights, while Royal Air Maroc has expanded domestic services, especially to Casablanca. Several European low-cost airlines now also offer direct flights to the city.
Public investment has played a part as well. The Dakhla Atlantic Port project is expected to improve trade and transport links as development continues across the southern provinces.
The latest figures also reflect efforts to attract visitors to destinations beyond Marrakech and Fez. Dakhla has become an important part of that strategy by offering adventure sports, nature tourism and beach holidays.
