Dakhla Emerges as Morocco’s Next Real Estate Hotspot, Investors Eye 10,000 New Homes

In Dakhla, "there is a strong demand for housing," said Hicham Essghir, the general manager of the real estate group Aakar Chark, which has set up there by doubling the models it has put in place in Oujda, Fez and elsewhere. Thus, a need for 10,000 housing units is to be met in this city in the next two years. In addition, the group plans to build two hotels and a private clinic, while moving towards other cities, starting with Laayoune, reports lavieeco.

However, the situation of the real estate sector in these places differs from that of the main cities of the country. Thus, the land, for the most part, is in the private domain of the State, not registered with the land registry. And this is precisely where the problem lies. Because "the inhabitants have always had a tribal system, with tribal chiefs... So they live in separate communities from each other and in individual houses. It is difficult, even unthinkable for them to live in an apartment, in co-ownership," explained a developer.

When it comes to housing built by third parties, 85% of the units built are part of economic and social operations. In this sense, Al Omrane has played important roles in the eradication of slums, the rehabilitation of cities and territories. To recall, the holding company had released an envelope of 5.2 billion DH including 4.1 as the State’s participation for the period 2008-2015. This program concerned the realization of 87,380 housing units intended for residents in camps and slums.

However, for future achievements, it is important "to establish an urban policy adapted to the region, its inhabitants and the growth potential it holds," hammered Taoufik Kamil, president of the FNPI. It should be noted that the FNPI will soon make a prospecting visit to these cities, in order to establish a diagnosis of the market situation and identify investment opportunities.