Royal Activities
Tuesday 10 January 2017

Royal Visit to Marrakech: New Projects for Old Medina's Rebirth, International Influence

Royal Visit to Marrakech: New Projects for Old Medina's Rebirth, International Influence

HM King Mohammed VI launched on Tuesday several projects to ensure a rebirth for Marrakech old Medina, reinforce its international influence and promote the lifestyle of its inhabitants and visitors.

The sovereign launched the second phase of the program of developing the surroundings of old medina's city walls, the program of urban upgrading for Zraib neighborhood and the project of constructing community facilities in the El Mellah neighborhood for an amount of nearly 110 million dirhams.

An integral part of development plan "Marrakech, City of Continuous Renewal", these different projects carry a new ambition for the old medina, in line with the legitimate expectations of its inhabitants and aimed at improving the city's buildings, preserve its historical tangible and intangible heritage, and ameliorate population's access to basic services.

The project of developing the surroundings of old medina's city walls seeks to develop the historical city walls, offer the inhabitants of adjacent neighborhoods community sports and recreational facilities and promote the landscape of avenues bordering the city walls.

The second phase of the said project (23 mln MAD), launched today by the sovereign, provides for building a pedestrian esplanade along the walls, developing squares with fountains and constructing community sport fields.

It also lays provisions for developing sport and relaxation areas for kids, youth and old people, and building parks and parking lots.

The first phase of the said project, worth 27 million dirhams, is under way and stretches from Bab Hmer to Agdal Gardens.

The Zraib neighborhood urban upgrading program consists of repairing run-down houses (128 units), demolishing run-down buildings which cannot be repaired (22 units), restoring five mausoleums and some parts of city walls, renovating buildings' facades and developing "Bad Lakhemiss" park.

On the same occasion, HM the King launched the building works of community facilities in the El Mellah neighborhood, mainly developing the "Miaara" square, and constructing a daycare, a club for the elderly and a center for women.

These facilities fall within the framework of the implementation of the 2nd phase of the El Mellah neighborhood urban upgrading program which is meant to preserve the Jewish component of the Moroccan identity and promote the values of tolerance and openness.

MAP 10 January 2017