New Port of Dakhla, A Flagship Project of New Development Model for Southern Provinces

The new port of Dakhla Atlantic is a flagship magaproject of the development model for the Southern Provinces, in line with the High Guidelines of HM the King. This project, the agreement on which was signed before HM the King in February 2016, is perfectly in line with the High guidelines of the Sovereign, outlined in His speech on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Green March, says the Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water in a statement. “Consistent with this vision, the Atlantic coast to the south of the Kingdom, bordering the Moroccan Sahara, will serve as an area for the achievement of economic complementarity as well as continental and international prominence. In addition to Tanger-Med, which is the first port in Africa, Dakhla Atlantique will contribute to reaching this goal,” HM the King said in His speech. “I shall continue to work for the development of a real maritime economy in these provinces, which I particularly cherish.

Indeed, they boast significant resources and capabilities that can make them act as a bridge between Morocco and its African roots,” the Sovereign underlined. This project of strategic importance for West Africa and the southern provinces, including the region of Dakhla Oued Eddahab will support the economic, social and industrial development of the region in all its productive sectors (fisheries, agriculture, mining, energy, tourism, trade, industry and so on). It will also provide the region with a modern logistics tool that will allow capturing future opportunities offered by the shipping sector on an international scale. This project with an evolutive design will involve the development of a deep-water port on the Atlantic coast of the region of Dakhla Oued Eddahab following three components: a -16m/zh deep commercial port, a port dedicated to coastal and deep-sea fishing, and a port dedicated to the shipbuilding industry.

This port will be backed by an industrial-logistics zone of 1,650 hectares intended to offer quality industrial and logistics services. Following the completion of studies relating to the realization of this port complex, the Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water launched a call for tenders with pre-selection No. 08/DPDPM/2020 for the construction of a new port complex in Dakhla.

The results of the pre-selection phase have been published by the Ministry, under the regulations of public procurement in force The list of companies selected following the pre-selection phase is finalized, the next phase will focus on the selection of a contract holder and subsequently on the actual launch of work, the statement concludes.