Morocco has ranked 84th out of 146 countries in the 2026 Global Attractiveness Index. It is the highest-ranked country in North Africa. Algeria is just behind in 85th place. Egypt ranks 88th, Tunisia 105th and Mauritania 131st. The index, published by The European House – Ambrosetti, looks at four areas: openness, innovation, access to resources and efficiency.
The United States ranks first overall, followed by China and Singapore. Germany is fourth, while France is 10th. Italy has also improved its score.
The United Arab Emirates is the top-ranked Arab country, in seventh place globally. Qatar ranks 26th and Saudi Arabia 27th.
The report says the global economy is facing slower growth and continued disruption to energy and shipping routes. The conflict in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have affected one of the world’s main trade routes. Shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal also remains below pre-crisis levels.
“The global economic landscape remains fragile amid slowing global growth and fresh supply shocks in the energy and logistics sectors. The conflict in Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz blocked one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, while transit through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal remains significantly below pre-crisis levels.”
The report says investors are now looking beyond the ability of countries to attract money and businesses. Infrastructure, institutions, innovation and access to key resources are becoming more important.
“In this environment, economic attractiveness can no longer be defined solely as the ability to attract capital, businesses, and foreign talent. Instead, it increasingly hinges on the strength of institutional and structural economic fundamentals, infrastructure resilience, innovation capacity, and access to strategic resources.”
Infrastructure is an important part of the country’s position in the index. Tanger Med port, high-speed rail and investment in renewable energy have helped strengthen its role in trade and manufacturing.
Green hydrogen and phosphate resources are also important parts of the investment picture.
The report also calls for simpler rules and faster administrative procedures.
“High-quality regulatory frameworks remain a primary prerequisite for attracting and executing investment. It is essential to reduce procedural fragmentation, streamline coordination across government levels, establish clear deadlines, and define precise operational responsibilities.”
Digital infrastructure is another priority.
“The deployment of advanced digital networks is also a vital prerequisite for enterprise competitiveness and technology-driven investments. Accelerating network deployment across industrial clusters and regions facing infrastructure deficits must be prioritized.”
Disruption to major shipping routes has also changed trade patterns. Rerouting ships around the Cape of Good Hope can add 10 to 14 days to some Asia-Europe journeys, increasing the importance of logistics hubs around the western Mediterranean and West Africa.
