Morocco Bound

Saudi–Emirati tensions over Yemen have reignited a debate about how the United Arab Emirates projects power beyond the Gulf, particularly across Africa and the Maghreb. The public rupture with Saudi Arabia over Yemen has drawn attention to a broader pattern in which Abu Dhabi is accused of using proxy actors, military support, media influence, and selective alliances to shape outcomes in fragile conflict zones. From Libya and Sudan to the Western Sahara file, the UAE has emerged as a consequential external actor whose involvement often intersects with local rivalries, unresolved conflicts, and competing regional interests.

Ride-hailing has returned to the political agenda in North Africa, reopening questions governments have been trying to resolve for more than a decade. At the center of the renewed debate is the controlled return of Uber to Morocco, a move that reflects a broader regional recalibration rather than a shift toward liberalization. Inside the sector in Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, plans to base aircraft in Rabat from 2026, positioning Morocco’s capital as a new entry point for European travelers and expanding air connectivity beyond traditional hubs.

Morocco’s 2025 crime data point to a security landscape shaped by steady overall crime levels, a continued decline in violent offenses, and a record-high case clearance rate, even as challenges persist in areas such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, and road safety.