Saudi Royal Palaces in Tangier Leave Moroccan Firms Unpaid, Straining Relations

Built for the King of Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, these two palaces were meant to strengthen the Saudi presence in the city of Tangier, one of Morocco’s flagship tourist destinations. Unfortunately, this project is affecting the local economic fabric, as well as the cordial bilateral relations between the two countries.

The reason being that the Saudi royal house still owes millions of euros in unpaid bills to the Moroccan companies that carried out this work. A delay in payment which, according to the Spanish media Cope, has created a "discomfort" in the construction sector in Tangier. Local companies that participated in this project, hoping to replenish their coffers, are now facing serious financial difficulties.

As Arab countries, Morocco and Saudi Arabia share cultural and religious ties that facilitated the implementation of this project. But this delay in paying the Moroccan executing companies calls into question the solvency of Saudi authorities in the context of their international commitments. For now, Moroccan companies do not know when and how they will be paid.