Throughout its history, the development of Agadir has followed a unique urban path. After undergoing a remarkable reconstruction in the 1960s and a period of thriving tourism in the 1980s, the city remained stagnant for many years, lacking momentum and failing to keep up with its rapidly growing population. Everything changed with the Royal Speech of November 6, 2019, which brought the city into the spotlight and placed it at the center of the Kingdom’s concerns. Today, like a phoenix, Agadir shines again, transformed by the ambitious Urban Development Program 2020 2024, enacted on February 4, 2020 by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him. By preparing it to assume the role of a metropolis at the center of the Kingdom, which it is called upon to hold, this program, three years after its launch, gives the city a new attractiveness and a positive momentum that is now its own.
Access and mobility to encourage employment and business
Today, Agadir has modern and efficient roads and infrastructure, which has resolved its previous issues with isolation and traffic congestion. The entire road network in the metropolitan area has been improved and beautified, from the city entrances to the historic avenues, and over 2,500 new parking spaces are currently being constructed.
These improvements have enhanced access to the metropolis, as well as its port and airport logistics infrastructure. The transformation of the old National Route 1 into a modern urban expressway, featuring 2×3 lanes and underpasses, and the creation of a new bypass road to the northeast of the city, have made it more attractive for investment, business travel, and setting up new industrial areas on the city outskirts.
Moreover, the Agadir 2020-2024 Urban Development Program has launched an innovative high-level bus service that serves all employment areas, facilitating the mobility of the workforce in the city
Green spaces for breathing and entertainment
Because the quality of life is essential for every citizen’s well-being, the city’s historic public gardens, public squares, and green spaces have been renovated and improved to welcome the public. These spaces provide an enjoyable alternative to the beach and offer a balanced distribution of breathing areas throughout the city. The free spaces are already very popular with both locals and foreign visitors, who appreciate the opportunities they provide for sports and strolling.
In addition to enhancing Agadir’s cultural offerings, some of these public gardens and squares also host occasional outdoor events, creating new focal points of interest and an attractive living environment for those living or working in the metropolis.
A signature waterfront for a new impetus in the tourist zone
Agadir’s worldwide reputation as a tourist destination is well established. For several years, the beachfront sector was appearing outdated, despite the creation of a large promenade in 2008 that transformed the seafront and the habits of beachgoers. Thanks to the PDU 2020-2024, the entire tourist zone is now benefiting from a total urban redevelopment to create a new momentum in this major economic sector of Agadir.
The time has come for investors to take part in this promising new dynamic of renewed radiance, as the transformation of the tourist zone will be accompanied by major attractions, including the upgraded bird park La Vallée des Oiseaux, the new Timitar Museum dedicated to the promotion of Amazigh culture, and the Bijaouane Esplanade, which is intended to host major festivals and events on an area of 25,000m2.
Reconnecting with the city’s history and sharing it with the world
Agadir, like destinations that have successfully highlighted their historical heritage, is reconnecting with its history marked by the earthquake of 1960, since the launch of the Royal Program. More than 60 years later, it is an entire city that is reclaiming its heritage sites and inviting citizens and international visitors to rediscover them. The Kasbah of Agadir Oufella, once a burial place, has been transformed into a sublime memorial honoring the deceased and the ancient architecture. The period of the earthquake and the reconstruction is now transmitted to posterity through a museum approach housed in the historic building of Bank Al-Maghrib, and a Forest of Remembrance will be created on the site of the former Talborjt district.
The history of Agadir also includes post earthquake cultural buildings, dear to the hearts of citizens and now rehabilitated, such as the Sahara Cinema, the Municipal Green Theatre, the Agadir Dome, and the old squares of the city center. Agadir, the future city of culture, is the ambitious objective of the program that plans to construct a central media library, a grand theater, and a network of public reading throughout the city.
Making agadir a global hub for sports
The Agadir 2020-2024 Urban Development Program aims to reinforce the city’s position as a sports destination by creating major sports facilities, including a large covered arena and an Olympic-sized swimming pool built to international standards. These facilities, located near the Grand Stade d’Agadir, will make the city a highly attractive location for national and international sports competitions. In addition to these large sports facilities, the program also includes the creation of new neighborhood sports facilities, such as soccer fields, basketball courts, skateparks, swimming pools, and indoor sports halls. These facilities will help to discover new talent and promote the values of sports.
Health, education, sport and social, the human being at the heart of the program
The Agadir 2020-2024 Urban Development Program includes projects that are designed to directly benefit the well-being of citizens, such as improving education and under-resourced neighborhoods. However, these projects also aim to make the city more attractive to new residents and potential investors who seek a high quality of life. One such sector is healthcare, which will receive new specialized facilities through the program. These include several neighborhood-based health centers, such as a Day Clinic in Ihchach for outpatient procedures, a Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Diagnostic Center in Hay Mohammadi, a Rehabilitation Center in Al Massira, two youth health spaces in Talborjt and Anza, and a Psychiatric Hospital attached to the CHU within the Health, Research, and Training Hub of the Agadir Metropolitan Valley business district. Additionally, the Agadir University Hospital which is scheduled to open in 2023.
