On July 14, Morocco witnessed an unprecedented surge in arrivals from its diaspora, with nearly 69,000 Moroccan nationals returning home in a single day—a record-breaking figure. This spike is part of a broader trend that’s seen daily entries consistently exceed 67,000 over the past ten days, and authorities expect the momentum to carry through at least the end of next week.
The influx is tied to the annual Operation Marhaba 2025, organized under the High Royal Instructions to facilitate the summer return of Moroccans living abroad. In anticipation of this massive movement, the government has rolled out a robust logistical framework. At sea, the maritime plan has been significantly scaled up, deploying 29 ferries operated by seven companies. These vessels cover twelve routes between Morocco and several major European ports in Spain, France, and Italy, offering a total capacity of 7.3 million passengers and 2 million vehicles—a 3 percent increase from last year.
Air travel has followed the same upward trajectory. Weekly capacity now reaches 500,000 airline seats, with 59 approved carriers operating over 2,100 weekly flights connecting Moroccan airports to 141 destinations worldwide.
To support the wave of returning citizens, infrastructure upgrades have been a priority. Over the past few years, the government has invested 530 million dirhams to modernize key ports, including Tanger Med, Nador, Al Hoceima, and the city port of Tangier. Airports have also been adapted to handle the increased traffic.
On the ground, health and safety logistics are in place along nearly 3,600 kilometers of major roadways. The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity has played a central role in supporting travelers, coordinating public information campaigns and deploying staff across 26 welcome centers nationwide. Around 1,200 healthcare professionals have been mobilized to provide assistance during the peak summer travel period.
Efforts to maintain close ties with citizens living abroad have been a major part of the initiative. Since June 10, mobile consulates have been set up in key departure ports, offering weekend and holiday services. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened additional on-site offices to ensure uninterrupted consular services throughout the operation.
