Morocco is a country that maintains the mystique of a far-off African nation, full of bizarre splendours and lands alien to the most. And yet it lies only a hour’s ferry ride from Spain, making it more than easy enough for anybody to get to – and in recent years they have flocked in their thousands, packing out the local markets and sampling many a local delicacy. The country is located in North Africa on the Western point of the continent, with borders to Algeria in the East and Mauritania to the South, as well as coasts on both the Atlantic in the West and the Mediterranean in the North. The Moroccan land is varied and has something to interest all who visit – from the sun-soaked coastal regions to the green, fertile lands of the Atlas Mountain range.

Morocco’s original inhabitants, the Berbers, have seen it all – from the Phoenicians, the Byzantines through to even the Romans – they have seen occupation, reform and repression through one empire or another over the ages. This trend never let up through thousands of years, and the 20^th Century saw occupation by both the French and Spanish – the Spanish still hold claim to Ceuta and Melilla to this day. Through the ages there were many different leaders, figureheads and the like put into power or fighting their way to the top from any number of different tribes and belief structures. Christianity was predominant in the country until the flood of Islam spread, shaping the country into what it is today – heavily Muslim and with a plethora of architectural delights reflecting this. Whilst many different empires claimed precedence over Morocco through the ages, there have been a number of Arab dynasties that have been present since the 7^th Century, the last of which being the Alawite family, which took power in the 1630s and remains strong to this day. Modern history saw the aforementioned attention from Spain and France, with the country falling under French rule by 1912 – under French rule a number of villes nouvelles were built to stand alongside the established Moroccan medinas, arguably showing a respect from the French rulers who avoided the urge to demolish the ancient buildings. This decision heavily affected the general look of Moroccan towns and the stark architectural contrast still holds strong to this day. After achieving independence in 1956 Morocco saw new rule under King Mohammed V, from 1961 to his death in 1999 his son Hassan II and from then on Hassan’s son Mohammed VI – through this time Morocco has been a staunch supporter of the West, the USA especially, and Mohammed VI has been seen to introduce more liberal and open policies to the country, especially concerning women’s rights in Morocco. The legacy of Hassan II, however, has not been totally forgotten – especially when it comes to an ongoing dispute with the Sahrawi people. After the Spanish left the region in 1975, Hassan was quick to get his people into the region and claim it as Moroccan – the indigenous Sahrawi people did, and still do dispute this claim. The problems saw nearly 16 years of fighting between the Moroccan army and guerrillas in the territory, until a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991. The issue has still not been resolved to this day, though slow progress is being made through UN channels.

Morocco is a wonderful and exciting country for anyone to visit – it is close enough to the more ‘regular’ holiday destinations so not to be completely out of the way, whilst at the same time offering and experience one simply cannot find in the more traditional sun and sea destinations. An off plan investor could do a lot worse than looking to the country and there are more than enough destinations within Morocco to offer a plethora of choice, whatever the demands of the buyer.

The standards of healthcare in Morocco are generally good in main towns and cities, though hospitals in rural areas can prove under-equipped. Healthcare is either free of charge or provided at minimal cost, but private health insurance is highly recommended.

Mobile phone coverage stretches across most of the major towns and cities in the West of the country, with connection quality suffering (or simply not existing) in other areas. Landlines are widely available in towns and cities and lines are of an excellent standard. Internet cafes are widespread in business hotspots, though services can be expensive.