Morocco Mall : Le prochain temple de shopping marocain offre un avant goût
Salwa Akhannouch, patronne du groupe Aksal, à l’origine du Morocco Mall avec Nesk Investment, a présenté en avant première cet immense projet à la presse mardi après-midi.
Après une projection d’une vidéo qui retrace les quatre années de construction du Mall, les journalistes ont eu droit à une visite de ce dernier
accompagné de l’équipe Aksal et de David Padoa, architecte de ce nouveau temple de shopping marocain.
Morocco Mall a créé 5000 emplois directs, dont 1500 ont requis une formation au sein de l’académie Aksal d’après la PDG du groupe. Il vise à offrir une nouvelle expérience aux marocains et aux touristes étrangers dans les domaines de la restauration, le shopping et les loisirs, 15 millions de visiteurs par an sont attendus. Pour ce faire, le groupe a mis en place toute une stratégie de partenariat avec 11 hôtels casablancais, qui concerne d’offrir des navettes aux clients de ces hôtels afin de leur faire découvrir le Mall.
L’enseigne sera ouverte au public dès le 5 décembre, avec plus de 350 points de vente d’équipement, de Hi-Tech, de grande distribution et de vêtements. Les dirigeants de ce projet affirment que tous les besoins seront satisfaits, avec des offres grand public et de luxe.
Une soirée d’inauguration de grande taille est programmée, avec Jennifer Lopez à l’affiche et aussi Sofia Essaidi.
Les fans de la restauration seront plus que gâtés, avec la présence de 70 enseignes locales et internationales du genre Rotana Café, Venezia Ice, StarBucks, Burger King, KFC, Second Cup, McDonald et d’autres, offrant plus de 1200 places assises, 8 restaurants ont une vue sur l’océan.
Les loisirs sont aussi un des points forts du Morocco Mall, proposant une expérience tout à fait nouvelle sur un quart de la superficie du Mall. Un Cinéma IMAX 3D, un parc d’attractions Adventure Land de 5000 m², une patinoire de 700 m2, un aquarium à la dimension éducative avec un ascenseur panoramique central (le 3e au monde de ce type après Washington et Berlin) et une fontaine musicale troisième de son genre après celle de Las Vegas du même auteur et celle de Dubaï.
L’artisanat marocain est aussi au rendez-vous avec un souk installé en deuxième étage du Mall, il regroupe une dizaine de boutiques où on pourra trouver des Caftans, babouches, djellabas et autres produits de l’artisanat. Une mosquée est présente également à coté de ces boutiques.
Les curieux du monde aquatiques trouveront aussi leur bonheur, puisqu’un aquarium est bien présent aussi au sein du Morocco Mall. Classé troisième au monde, il contient un million de litres d’eau de mer traversés par un ascenseur panoramique qui peur accueillir 12 personnes, permettant la découverte de 3.750 sortes de coraux et 37 espèces de poisson placées dans les bassins. Une équipe de 20 personnes veille au maintien de la température de l'eau et au respect des normes de protection des espèces marines.
La merveille de ce temple s’étend sur une surface de 6000 m², la fontaine musicale du Morocco Mall est l'une des attractions phare du plus grand Mall d'Afrique, troisième de ce type à l’échelle mondiale après celles de Las Vegas et de Dubaï.
Elle est dessinée par le même cabinet qui a fourni la fontaine du Bellagio à Las Vegas, offrant un véritable spectacle faits de lumières, de musiques, de mouvements et de jets d'eau. Entourée de 500 m de granit noir sur 5 cm d'épaisseur, cette fontaine dispose de 282 jets d'eau pouvant atteindre 60 m de haut.
Toutes les 20 minutes, un spectacle aquatique de 4 minutes sera programmé.
La merveille de ce temple s’étend sur une surface de 6000 m², la fontaine musicale du Morocco Mall est l'une des attractions phare du plus grand Mall d'Afrique, troisième de ce type à l’échelle mondiale après celles de Las Vegas et de Dubaï.
Et avec les dizaines de millions engloutis pour le plaisir des riches, combien de dispensaires médicaux, d'écoles, d'adductions d'eau , de voies de communication , etc etc.. aurait-on pu réaliser pour les pauvres , de plus en plus nombreux au pays ?
evidement parking assuré 😉 ca ira de la logan 🏴☠️ a credit de la secretaire smicarde habitant Bernoussi a la porsche cayenne 😎 payée cash et conduite par la dame habitant le val d'Anfa.
Que dire des temples de loisirs et consomations en europe a quelques encablures de barres hlm ou les gens se serrent la ceinture avec leurs enfants qui ne vont pas en vacances ou de ces boulevards aux vitrines superbes et juste devant des clochards transis de froid?
C'est de l'argent privé pas celui du contribuable donc libre aux gens d'en faire ce qu'ils veulent comme ici avec madame Salwa Akhenouch epouse de mr Aziz Akhenouch fils du magnat Oulhaj patron des stations Afriquia (entre autre) un self made man parti de rien du tout depuis Tafraout 😎
Que dire des temples de loisirs et consomations en europe a quelques encablures de barres hlm ou les gens se serrent la ceinture avec leurs enfants qui ne vont pas en vacances ou de ces boulevards aux vitrines superbes et juste devant des clochards transis de froid?
C'est vrai que ces différences de niveau de vie interpellent toujours et ça fait toujours mal de voir la pauvreté cotoyer cette société de consommation.
Mais c'est vrai dans tous les pays, même en France à l'approche de Noël on voit des sommes folles dépensées en denrées alimentaires pendant que d'autres se contentent des restos du coeur ...
Il faut cependant voir le côté positif ne serait ce qu'au niveau des emplois que cela crée, tant pour la construction que pour le fonctionnement.
Plus toutes les retombées indirectes par le monde que cela va attirer.
evidement parking assuré 😉 ca ira de la logan 🏴☠️ a credit de la secretaire smicarde habitant Bernoussi a la porsche cayenne 😎 payée cash et conduite par la dame habitant le val d'Anfa.
Je suis passé il y a 2 mois dans le nouveau centre commercial de Marrakech à Carrefour Agdal.
environ 1/4 des boutiques n'ont pas été occupées , et 1/4 a été occupé et abandonné.
certains coins ont un aspect dégradé et ruiné, et pourtant ça n'a que 2 ans.
La plupart des chalands ne paraissaient pas avoir le pouvoir d'achat correspondant à ces boutiques.
C'est un peu la même chose dans les galeries commerciales à Gueliz.
Qu'en sera t'il de cette réalisation pharaonnique de Casa, qui est peut etre une initiative privée , sans aide du contribuable, mais on ne nous dit rien sur l'attribution du terrain, chose rarement "claire", et surtout de l'indemnisation des expulsés, et ils étaient nombreux sur ce site.
La vraie question est plutôt celle de la rentabilité. Les projets de centres commerciaux de ce type se multiplient au Maroc en ce moment, et l'offre est déjà trop importante pour la zone de chalandise (y compris touristes, étrangers, etc.)
Avec une ouverture au mauvais moment, en plein coeur d'une crise qui frappe presque partout, le Mall va t il arriver à tenir ses objectifs, ou va t il se transformer, comme beaucoup d'espaces commerciaux, en une zone avec énormément de boutiques fermées, ou pire encore, avec un mélange de "niveaux" qui lui fera perdre encore plus de clientèle à long terme ? Et dans ce cas, la jolie plage aura été détruite pour rien....
J'ai la même réticence vis à vis de ces méga temples de la consommation partout dans le monde d'ailleurs :D
comme a la marina d'Agadir ou la moitié des commerces ne sont pas exploités mais achetes pour l'ensemble, les gens speculent quitte a payer des loyers pendant des années correspondant a la plus value qu'ils feront dessus, meme chose sur des terrains encore nus dans des lotissements qui ont 20 ans.
ce mall a eté lancé il y a 4 ans quand il n'y avait pas encore de crise nulle part, mais vu le fric ennorme a casa qu'on les riches familles soussies et fassies (qui l'affichent) ainsi que les jeunes cadres dynamiques aux salaires de 15 000 dh minimum (hemoragie de nos diplomés du sud qui fuient pour aller bosser sur casa) je pense qu'il sera plus rentable que ceux de marakech ville tournée que sur le tourisme et dont la population locale n'est pas si aisée que ca.
en ce qui concerne les expulsés, aucun echos a cet effet, j'ai lu que c'etait un terrain vague...
BRRRR on apelle ça de la restaurtion Les fans de la restauration seront plus que gâtés, avec la présence de 70 enseignes locales et internationales du genre Rotana Café, Venezia Ice, StarBucks, Burger King, KFC, Second Cup, McDonald
un marocain doit pas etre fiert de pareil chose
que de terain du domaine public on ete vole pour des projet de certaines bande de pilleurs de resources marocaine des projets quin enrichissent qu eux faut savoir que presque tout les soit disant emploie sont a bas salaire avec des contrats de 3 mois qui se renouvelles pour pas payer de charge sociale
et ça se targue on a le ppremier Mac do d Afrique on as le premier mega ecrand de cinema
on auras le premier TGV maintenant le premier MALL
mais on dis pas qu on as le systeme sante d education parmi les plus mauvais au monde
et le plus grand systeme de coruption et le plus mauvais clacement des developement humain et une pauvrete galopante
* *** ... en ce qui concerne les expulsés, aucun echos a cet effet, j'ai lu que c'etait un terrain vague... ***
un terrain vague, avec un important "habitat spontané", des petites gens, très dignes , travailleurs , parmi lesquels j'avais des amis, comme notre maréchal ferrant par exemple.
De l argent de prive dis plutot de l argent d ebnergumens proche du pouvoirou du pouvoir
Au Maroc jamais d appel d offre pour ceder un terrain qui appartiens a l etat
jamais d appel d offre pour des passation de grand marche de l etat
tout se passe par copinage au détriment du peuple marocain qui voie son patrimoine pille par le palais et ses proche
et on se demande comment se construise tres vite des fortune pour ceux qui gravite autour du palais
Je salus ton enthousiasme pour le marocco mail mais vois l'avis donné par les journalistes Marocains à ce sujet !!!! Le luxe est une chose le respect des gens en ai une autre !!!! Voir l'article ce jour dans la rubrique actualités de yabiladi.com......
I’m heading back to Egypt for the first time in 30 years this July. Last time, I was 20, and we spent two weeks traveling on a shoestring as backpackers.
I’m wondering about a "cruise" on a felucca from Aswan—mainly to avoid being stuck in an air-conditioned tourist bubble (we’re already spending our first week in that setting with our diving club). We’d like to explore the most interesting stretch of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Do you have any thoughts on this option, tips, or maybe some contacts?
Hello, my husband and I will be in Egypt this coming November. Cairo seems more challenging to explore without a guide, and we’ll be there for 3 full days. Would anyone have the name of a guide?
Thanks!
Hi, we're looking for a guide to show us around Essaouira.
We're 11 adults and don't want to go through an agency. If you have a contact to help us discover this city, that would be great!
Thanks
I was wondering if it’s possible to join a group as a solo traveler with local agencies in Djanet for circuits like Tadrart, Essendilene, Sefar, or Tassili?
If you have any agencies to recommend, I’d love to hear about them.
I didn’t find any info on the forum.
Best,
Here’s a first draft for a 14-night itinerary during the Christmas break with two teens. We’re especially fond of hiking (nothing too extreme, though), which is why we’re drawn to the south.
- Marrakech (2 nights)
- Aït Ben Haddou (1 night)
- Dadès (3 nights, though we’re thinking of doing a day trip to the Todra Gorge on one of those days)
- M'hamid (1 night)
- Erg Chigaga (1 night)
- 4 nights to slot in
- Marrakech (2 nights)
Okay, I realize this involves a lot of driving, and we’re still debating the return route since we’d like to avoid the Tichka Pass in January, but going through Taroudant seems like it would add *a lot* of time. 😕
If you’ve got other suggestions for an itinerary with great hikes, I’m all ears!
Also, the 4 nights total in MRK isn’t really our preference, but since we’re arriving/departing super early from overseas, we’d like to be a bit rested before the long flight.
Another question:
For hikes (aside from the desert one), is it better to have a guide with us, or are the trails well-marked?
Hi everyone,
Our trip to Morocco will be from November 3 to 17, in the High Atlas.
Basically, our route would be:
Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou
Skoura - Tinghir - Merzouga
Merzouga via the N12 to Zagora
Zagora - Draa Valley - Marrakech
It seems to be the low season, so I’d love to travel without having to book accommodations in advance. In other countries, pre-booking has restricted us and kept us from visiting unplanned sites. Freedom is important to us, but I’d also like to avoid arriving somewhere and finding nothing available.
What do you recommend? Book ahead or not?
Your advice is always helpful, and thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.
Roberto
First of all: a big thank you to everyone whose insightful, funny, lively, and exotic posts we’ve enjoyed. It’s a joy to find such lovely writers on this forum, who’ve given me tons of ideas and addresses to prepare our trip.
Our plan: to explore Morocco from November 2nd to December 4th. We’ll have our own vehicle (a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic, in great condition), shipped with us from Sète to Tanger Med. Returning from Nador.
Our profile: 75 and 62 years young, so old but happy to be, in very good health. Seasoned travelers—it’s practically our whole life. Lovers of beautiful landscapes, historic sites, fine craftsmanship, and road trips. This will be my 3rd trip to Morocco, but the first two were 20 and 17 years ago. I’ve never been north of the Essaouira-Marrakech line (though I’ve gone further south). As for my husband, a lifelong expat including in Muslim countries, it’s his first time in Morocco.
He’s the one driving. He’s very experienced, cautious, not necessarily fast, but used to driving in all conditions (and countries, including the most creative on the road). But I don’t want to tire him out, and he no longer drives at night (and we’ll be there in November).
I’ve decided to show him a bit of everything by taking a road trip along beautiful backroads, with daily distances averaging 180-200 km (except on highways, which will be rare), regularly broken up by rest days. I’m counting on a speed of 40-50 km/h, plus stops/visits along the way.
Since I’ve read so many posts, I’ve narrowed it down to some very specific questions.
1) Coming directly from Rabat via the highway, we’d prefer to skip Marrakech*. Still, we’ll need to sleep somewhere nearby. We’ll head toward Skoura the next day. Does anyone have a well-located address for this route, possibly east of Marrakech? Ideally, we’re looking for a small town, easy parking, clean accommodation (minimum) with average comfort (or better if available), a bit heated, and if possible, pretty and/or nice—but above all, a place to sleep well, wash with lukewarm (ideally hot) water, and have a decent dinner.
(*Explanation for the "no-go" in Marrakech: it’s a shame, because there are truly beautiful things in this city, but I think the vibe won’t suit us—it’s an understatement for "it’ll put us off" / "make us flee" / "traumatize us." Not because it’s too crowded and we want to stand out from tourists (we’re part of them), but because of forced henna on your hand, or spending 10 minutes every quarter-hour saying "no thank you" to a "guide" who’s as much a guide as I am a trapeze artist. Knowing us, it’ll wear us down. The country is vast and beautiful, and our time too short to waste our memories just days after arriving. And I don’t want to ruin things for my peaceful husband, or he’ll demand we turn back—and Sète in November isn’t exactly thrilling either.)
2) Which route to Skoura (in 2 days)? I see two options: either via the Tichka Pass, with a night in Telouet before reaching Skoura, or via the R307/N23 from Demnate, with a night near Megdaz before descending to Skoura. So: Tichka Pass or R307/N23? I have a slight (big) preference for the second option, even though I know the other route is very beautiful too. Of course, before deciding, we’ll check the weather and the current state of the R307/N23—does anyone know where to get info on the road conditions? But even assuming the road is "passable," is it a bit too tough in itself? In short, is it reasonable? If a kind soul could share their experience, a thousand thanks in advance.
That’s all I’ve written for now. I’ll save the other questions for later posts. Thanks again to those who had the patience to read this and to those who can respond. Happy Sunday to all!
I’m just a few days away from my trip to Marrakech—I’m leaving from November 13th to 20th and bringing my parents along! I’d love to plan my stay as best as I can, and I’m sure the forum crew can help. So, here are my questions:
- Where’s the best place to exchange money without getting ripped off? The owner of the riad where we’re staying told us to avoid doing it at the airport because it’s really expensive and to do it in the medina instead, near Jemaa el-Fna square.
- Which traditional hammams do you recommend that are reasonably priced? How much should we budget for one? That’ll help me plan my expenses.
- What are some nice restaurants in the medina?
- I’d also like to know roughly how much to expect for a tea, a meal, a taxi, a djellaba, and babouches. I don’t want to get overcharged and would like to know what to expect.
- What are the must-do activities and places to visit?
Hi, I’d like to head to Morocco next week with my car. I’ve looked online at all the different info about the ferry crossing to Tangier, but I’m finding it really expensive. Is there a way to buy tickets in Spain? Or another way to get the Algeciras–Tangier crossing cheaper? Thanks for any tips or info!
We found a guide who offers the trip from M'hamid to a camp (departure at 3 PM, tea, meal, camel ride, overnight stay, breakfast, and return to M'Hamid by 11 AM the next day via the sacred oasis). He quoted us a price of 380 € for April.
What do you think of this rate?
This might sound like a silly question, but is it common to negotiate the price for this kind of thing (we're booking from France)? It’s still a big part of our travel budget.
Hi there,
We're planning to visit Egypt between January 25 and February 15, 2027. I looked up the Ramadan dates and found some sites saying it starts on February 8, while others say February 18... Where's the mistake?
Thanks,
Christian
Hi there,
We’re a family of 4 with two boys aged 12 and 10 traveling to Egypt in February.
We’re spending 3 days in Cairo to take our time exploring the city and the sites before heading south.
-Is it necessary to have a guide to visit the GEM? Are audio guides available?
-Do you have any contacts for drivers to organize a few transfers (Giza, Saqqara, Airport)?
-Do you know a French-speaking guide who’s friendly, family-friendly, and good at making things exciting, with reasonable prices?
With our two teens, we’re heading to Morocco for two weeks at the end of December and beginning of January. It’ll be our first trip that’s more "off the beaten path," even though we’ve visited several countries before. Given the overwhelming amount of info, I’m feeling a bit swamped with the prep this trip requires, and I’ll admit I’m a little lost when it comes to figuring out what’s realistic to visit in two weeks 😕 So, all your tips, personal experiences, and suggestions are more than welcome!
- Which places should we prioritize during this time of year? (I’ve read that some spots are less accessible in winter?)
- What’s the best way to get around? (rental car, train, private transport, buses, etc.? — just a heads-up, we’ll have a few suitcases!)
- In terms of "safety," are there any areas to avoid?
- Any recommendations for reliable local tour companies (beyond the big names like "Get Your Guide") that offer excursions or private transport to help us explore the country?
- A doable 2-week itinerary that lets us enjoy the country’s diversity without having to change accommodations every two days?
I’m planning a trip to the High Atlas in Morocco and have a few questions for you:
- Why do so many people recommend avoiding international agencies for car rentals? Can anyone explain why?
- Is Booking.com reliable, and has anyone rented a vehicle through their service? There’s a pretty big price difference compared to local Moroccan agencies.
- Is there a detailed road map included in the rental car?
- Is Google Maps enough to get around the High Atlas? This will be my first trip there.
Thanks so much to anyone who can help with this destination I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Have a great evening,
Roberto
hi there, I’m heading to Tunisia 🙂 from April 27 to May 8 with my family. I’ve read through the various discussions about the country, but I’m still a bit unsure🤪: for currency exchange, I saw on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that withdrawing currency with a bank card from ATMs is limited to 200 TND per week. There are four of us traveling by car, so that might be a bit tight! And it’s a hassle to carry a lot of cash, even if I’m not being paranoid! What do you all recommend?
Cheers,
Laurent.
We're planning a 2-week trip in late February/early March for a road trip in the High Atlas with a rental car, and we'd love to avoid booking our accommodations in advance. Is that doable, easily manageable, or risky (are accommodations available, expensive, or not great)? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hi,
This autumn, we’re planning to explore the Oriental region and we’re wondering where the best place to land would be. We’ll have three weeks ahead of us and we’ll be renting a car.
Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Is there an official website or list of certified Egyptologist guides in Egypt? And most importantly, what are the normal prices for a full day or half day? There’s so much scamming and crazy pricing—depending on who you contact, it can range from simple to quadruple!!!!
Thanks
Hello,
In September, my wife and I, along with another couple, will be traveling to Tunisia and staying at the Sheherasade Hotel near Sousse.
We’d love to hear your recommendations or tips on places to visit, as well as advice on taxis or other transportation options.
Thanks in advance!
This autumn’s trip should be in Morocco—barring any geopolitical issues between now and then.
After many trips to the south of Fès, I’m giving the north a try.
My plan is roughly to do a road trip loop from Rabat back to Rabat, passing through Asilah, Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Akchour, Fès, Meknès, and Volubilis.
That’s a lot of cities.
Probably a bit too many for our taste—we usually prefer more isolated spots...
So I’m looking for tips on little backroads, secluded beaches, half-day hikes, and offbeat places.
If you’ve also got recommendations for accommodation... (We’re open to splurging over 100 € if it’s a real favorite.)
Feel free to think outside the box—this is an open-ended plan! !😉
Hello,
I’m looking for testimonials from Pieds-Noirs who have recently returned to Algeria.
There can’t be many left after 65 years of the country’s independence.
I’m planning to go back myself soon to reconnect with my roots... before I pass away...
I’ve started making a few pre-bookings for hotels and apartments to rent in Algiers. At first, I received friendly and welcoming responses. Then, when I mentioned I wanted to stay for two or three weeks—maybe even a month—explaining that my trip wouldn’t be strictly touristy but more of a pilgrimage to the places of my childhood, and that it would likely be a very emotional journey, I expected a positive and warm reaction to my approach. Instead, I suddenly stopped getting replies from the three or four people I’d contacted. So now I’m wondering about the reception former Pieds-Noirs can expect...
Anyone here who can share their experience of returning? I specified “recently” because it seems that right now, diplomatic relations between the two governments are extremely tense, not to say hostile... even if Macron claims otherwise...
Hello,
I’m traveling to Algeria from October 27 to November 16, 2026.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through the process about the accommodation attestation required for the visa application:
- Does it need to cover the entire duration of the trip?
- Is this document mandatory for a hotel to rent a room?
- Is it checked during inspections?
- Is a hotel booking (e.g., via Booking.com) sufficient for the visa?
- If so, does it need to be paid in advance?
I plan to visit several cities and do one or more treks with a guide or agency.
If you have any contacts you’d recommend, I’d be grateful!
Also, I’d love to share this trip with a companion who’s already done some traveling.
We’d organize the journey together, of course.
Thanks for your feedback!
Safe travels to all,
Dom, Dijon, 64 years old
I’m leaving for Tunisia in five weeks for a full 15-day trip. I’ll be arriving in Monastir and departing from there as well.
I’d like to do a route that’s a bit different from my first stay, which was more focused on cities and culture (Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, El Jem).
I’ll be getting around by public transport.
I’d like to head south toward Tozeur, and I saw that you can take a *louage* from Monastir to Sbeitla (2h30). I imagine it’s not too complicated to get to Tozeur from there afterward? The issue is the return trip to Monastir and safety in Sbeitla.
If this route seems too complicated, I might opt for Djerba instead, which looks simpler.
I’m heading to Morocco in September 2026, and part of my trip takes me through Merzouga. I’m looking for a 4x4 driver-guide to explore the area with my partner and me.
