The new Rabat airport ready after years of delay

– bySaid · 2 min read
The new Rabat airport ready after years of delay

The project to expand the Rabat-Salé international airport has entered its final phase. After significant delays, the work is now about to be completed before the end of 2025, ensuring its full operational capacity for the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025).

This modernization should allow the airport to quadruple its capacity, from 1.5 million to 4 million passengers per year. The heart of this transformation is a new 69,000 m² terminal, spread over several floors, including "walk-through" commercial spaces and six telescopic boarding bridges.

The project also includes the expansion of the aircraft parking area, with the addition of six new positions, and the construction of a two-level parking lot with a capacity of 1,300 cars. The new terminal will be equipped with modern digital systems for flight management and security checks.

A strategic project marked by delays

This project, financed by ONDA, the African Development Bank and the French Development Agency, is part of the national strategy to modernize infrastructure in preparation for CAN 2025 and the 2030 World Cup. It is considered a cornerstone of the "Rabat, City of Light" program.

However, the delivery of the project, initially scheduled for July 2022, has experienced a "considerable delay". This delay was notably caused by the withdrawal of the Chinese company SINOHYDRO, which was part of the construction consortium, following an internal conflict. The completion of the work before the end of the year therefore marks the end of a complex and strategic file for the capital.