Middle East and North Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There is a general threat from terrorism in Morocco.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. You should be aware that there is a threat of kidnapping in the immediate and wider regions and particular care should be taken in remote regions and border areas. You should have confidence in your individual security arrangements and maintain a high level of vigilance. See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Travellers to Morocco should be aware of the impact that the situation in Iraq, as well as the violence between Israelis and Palestinians, has had across the Arab world and the risk of public disturbance in response. You should follow news reports and be alert to developments in the Middle East that might trigger public disturbances. You should take precautions for your personal safety and avoid public gatherings and demonstrations. Any increase in regional tension might affect Travel Advice.
  
  
• You should take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid public gatherings and demonstrations.
  
  
• Morocco has a poor road safety record. Accidents are frequent, especially on busy major routes. The main road from Agadir to Marrakesh via Imi’nTanoute and Chichaoua has been reported as particularly hazardous.  See the Road Travel section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• 419,000 UK tourists visited Morocco in 2007 (Source: Moroccan Ministry of Tourism). Most visits are trouble-free. 100 British nationals required consular assistance in Morocco in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (19 cases); hospitalisations (33 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (22 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (61 cases). There are occasional incidents involving theft at knifepoint in the major cities and along beaches, and violent crime, though not a major problem in Morocco, is growing.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.