Marjane
Hypermarket format. Morocco's largest domestically owned retailer, part of Marjane Group (owned by Al Mada): groceries, electronics, clothing, and a licensed alcohol section. Found in every major city.
Essentials
Brand & Service Directory
The everyday services worth knowing before you need them.
Banks
| Bank | Best For | ATM Network | Mobile App | Expat Friendliness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attijariwafa Bank | Largest network, most branches | Widest in Morocco | Decent, basic features | Good; English-speaking staff have been reported at major branches, but this varies by location and turnover, confirm before relying on it. |
| BMCE Bank of Africa | International transfers | Large | Functional | Good. Strong international connections. |
| CIH Bank | Digital banking; ATM fee terms for foreign cards have varied, confirm current terms with the bank | Medium, growing | Best in Morocco | Excellent. Modern, digital-first. |
| Banque Populaire | Most accessible in small cities | Very wide, including rural | Basic | Fair. Less experience with expat accounts. |
| Saham Bank (formerly Société Générale Maroc) | French expats, familiar brand | Medium | Good | Good for French speakers. |
| BMCI | Clients of BNP Paribas elsewhere; BMCI is BNP Paribas's Moroccan subsidiary | Medium, concentrated in major cities | Functional | Good, particularly if you already bank with BNP Paribas in another country. |
| Citibank Maghreb | Corporate and institutional banking, not individual accounts | Minimal; two branches nationwide (Casablanca and Rabat) | No consumer offering | Low for most arrivals. This is a corporate and institutional bank serving multinational business clients rather than a retail bank most individuals can open a personal account with. No confirmed dedicated public website; Citigroup's global site covers its Morocco presence but is not a retail banking portal. |
| CFG Bank | Digital-first retail banking from a firm that built its reputation in investment banking before expanding into retail | Smaller, growing | Strong; among the more modern apps in the market | Good reputation for digital account opening; confirm current document requirements directly, since this is a newer retail operation than the legacy banks above. |
| Crédit du Maroc | Mid-size network with broad city coverage | Medium | Functional | Fair. Now owned by the Moroccan group Holmarcom after Crédit Agricole (France) sold its stake in 2022, ending its earlier French-bank affiliation. |
| Al Barid Bank | Reach into small towns and rural areas via the national post office network | Very wide; the largest branch count of any Moroccan bank, built on post office locations | Basic | Fair. Built primarily for basic accounts and postal savings products rather than international transfers, so it is less suited to typical expat banking needs than the larger commercial banks. |
| Crédit Agricole du Maroc | Coverage outside major cities; historically an agricultural-financing bank, now a full universal bank | Wide, including rural areas | Functional | Fair. |
Telecom
| Operator | Coverage | Data Prices | Best For | Tourist SIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maroc Telecom (IAM) | Widely considered the strongest nationwide and rural coverage | Medium (20GB: ~100 MAD/month) | Reliability, rural travel | Available at airports, 50-100 MAD |
| Orange Morocco | Good in cities, fair rural | Competitive (20GB: ~80-100 MAD) | International calls, data deals | Available at airports, 50-80 MAD |
| Inwi | Good in cities, weaker rural | Cheapest (30GB: ~100 MAD) | Budget data, young users | Available at airports, 40-70 MAD |
Delivery & Ride Apps
| App | Service | Cities | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glovo | Food delivery, groceries, pharmacy | Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir, Fes | Largest food delivery platform in Morocco. English interface available. |
| InDrive | Ride-hailing (negotiated fares) | All major cities | You propose a fare, driver accepts or counters. Usually cheaper than taxis. |
| Careem | Ride-hailing (algorithm-set fares) | Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech | Algorithm-set fares. More predictable than InDrive. |
| Avito.ma | Classifieds (buy/sell/rent) | Nationwide | Morocco's Craigslist. Used for apartments, furniture, cars, jobs. Essential for expats. |
| Mubawab.ma | Property listings (rent/buy) | Nationwide | More curated than Avito for real estate, with generally better photos. "Verified listings" is the platform's own claim, not something we have independently confirmed. |
Government Services
| Institution | What It Does | When You Need It |
|---|---|---|
| CNSS (Caisse Nationale de Securite Sociale) | Social security: pensions, health insurance (AMO), family allowances | Employment, auto-entrepreneur registration, healthcare |
| AMO (Assurance Maladie Obligatoire) | Mandatory health insurance linked to CNSS | Automatically enrolled when employed or self-employed |
| DGI (Direction Generale des Impots) | Tax administration: income tax, VAT, property tax | Tax filing, business registration, property purchase |
| CRI (Centre Regional d'Investissement) | One-stop business registration and investment facilitation | Starting a business (SARL, SA, branch office) |
| OMPIC | Industrial property office: company names, trademarks, patents | Registering a company name (negative certificate) |
| ANRAC | National agency for cannabis regulation | Legal cannabis cultivation, processing, export licenses |
| Moqataa | Local administrative office for document legalization | Legalizing document copies, signature certification |
| Commune | Municipal government: local services, permits | Residency registration, building permits, local taxes |
| Prefecture / Wilaya | Regional government: Carte de Sejour processing | Residency permit application and renewal |
Money Transfer
| Service | Speed | Fees (typical) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (formerly TransferWise) | 1-2 business days | 0.5-1% of transfer amount | Regular monthly pension/salary transfers; rates are generally competitive, but compare against current alternatives before a large transfer. |
| Western Union | Minutes (cash pickup) | 5-10% on small amounts | Emergency cash when you need it immediately. Expensive. |
| CashPlus | Minutes (domestic) | Low for domestic | Domestic money transfers, bill payment, mobile top-up. |
| Bank SWIFT transfer | 3-5 business days | 25-50 EUR per transfer | Large one-time transfers (property purchase, large deposits). |
| PayPal | N/A | N/A | Cannot withdraw to Moroccan bank accounts. Limited use. |
Insurance
| Provider | Type | Best For | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanlam Maroc (formerly Saham Assurance) | Local (health, auto, property) | Comprehensive local coverage at Moroccan prices | Health: 5,000-15,000 MAD/year |
| Wafa Assurance | Local (health, auto, life) | Large network, widely accepted | Health: 5,000-12,000 MAD/year |
| RMA | Local (all types) | Premium local coverage | Health: 6,000-18,000 MAD/year |
| Cigna Global | International health | Coverage in Morocco AND abroad. Best for frequent travelers. | 10,000-30,000 MAD/year |
| Allianz Care | International health | Comprehensive international with Morocco coverage | 12,000-35,000 MAD/year |
| SafetyWing | Travel/nomad insurance | Digital nomads, short-term stays, budget travelers | ~45 USD/month |
Car Rental
| Company | Type | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europcar | International | 300-600 MAD/day | Largest international network in Morocco, with airport desks. Vehicle condition varies by branch like any rental agency, so inspect before driving off. |
| Hertz | International | 300-550 MAD/day | Good fleet, airport locations. English-speaking staff are commonly available but not guaranteed at every branch. |
| Avis | International | 280-500 MAD/day | Competitive pricing. Widely available. |
| Medloc | Local | 200-400 MAD/day | Moroccan company. Lower prices. Vehicle quality varies. Read reviews. |
| Location Voiture Maroc (local agencies) | Local | 150-350 MAD/day | Cheapest option. Book via Avito or direct. Inspect vehicle carefully before accepting. |
Supermarkets
Marjane Market
Supermarket format, also part of Marjane Group. Mid-size neighborhood stores focused on daily grocery shopping rather than the full hypermarket range. Replaced the former Acima brand in 2019.
Marjane City
Small-format urban supermarket, the newest Marjane Group format (launched 2023). About 350 square meters, built for quick daily shopping in dense city neighborhoods rather than a weekly big-box trip; some locations add a small cafe corner.
Carrefour
Hypermarket format. The Carrefour brand in Morocco is operated under license by the Moroccan retailer Label'Vie, not run directly by the French parent company. Full hypermarkets with the widest imported product selection; prices run slightly higher than Marjane for local products.
Carrefour Market
Supermarket format, Label'Vie's mid-size neighborhood Carrefour stores, the direct equivalent of Marjane Market.
Carrefour Market Gourmet
Premium supermarket format. A small number of upscale Carrefour Market stores (Rabat, Marrakech, Casablanca) aimed at higher-spending local shoppers, tourists, and expats, with a wider selection of imported, organic, and local specialty products.
Carrefour Express
Convenience format. Small Label'Vie-operated Carrefour stores for top-up shopping, similar in role to a hanout but with supermarket-style shelving and fixed pricing.
Supeco
Discount format, also operated by Label'Vie under the Carrefour group. Wholesale-style pricing and a no-frills warehouse layout, positioned below Carrefour and Marjane on price. Fewer than two dozen stores nationwide, concentrated in larger cities.
Kazyon
Hard-discount format. An Egyptian chain that entered Morocco in October 2023 and expanded unusually fast, opening well over 100 small stores within its first two years by targeting residential neighborhoods that larger chains skip. Limited selection, low prices, no relation to Marjane or Carrefour. No confirmed official company website; the domains that surface in search results are independent catalog-aggregator sites, not the retailer itself.
BIM
Discount format. Turkish chain, Morocco's fastest-growing retailer before Kazyon's arrival. Limited selection but extremely low prices on basics: dairy, eggs, cleaning products, snacks. The Aldi of Morocco.
Hanout (corner shop)
Not a chain but a Moroccan institution. The neighborhood corner shop that sells everything from bread and milk to phone credit and cleaning supplies. Open late. Prices slightly higher than supermarkets but ultimate convenience.
Souk (weekly market)
Weekly open-air markets selling fresh produce, meat, fish, spices, and household goods. Cheapest option for fresh food. Prices are negotiable. Every neighborhood has a specific market day.
Transport Services
ONCF (trains)
National railway. Connects Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, Meknes, Oujda. Al Boraq high-speed line (Tangier-Casablanca: 2h10). Book at oncf-voyages.ma or station counters.
CTM (intercity buses)
Premium intercity bus service. Air-conditioned coaches with fixed schedules. Serves cities not reached by train (Chefchaouen, Essaouira, Agadir, desert towns). Book at ctm.ma.
Supratours
Bus service run by ONCF. Extends the rail network to cities without train stations. Essaouira, Agadir, Tiznit, Dakhla. Departs from train stations.
Grand Taxis
Shared intercity taxis (usually Mercedes sedans). Fixed routes between cities. Depart when full (6 passengers). Fast, cheap, no schedule. Stations in every city.
Petit Taxis
City taxis. Color-coded by city (red in Casablanca, beige in Marrakech, blue in Rabat). Metered rides within city limits. Rarely exceed 30-50 MAD for a cross-city trip.
Royal Air Maroc (RAM)
National airline. Domestic flights connecting Casablanca to Marrakech, Agadir, Fes, Tangier, Oujda, Laayoune, Dakhla. International hub at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport.
Utilities
ONEE (Office National de l'Electricite et de l'Eau Potable)
Morocco's national electricity and water utility. ONEE generates and transmits electricity nationwide and directly supplies both electricity and water in cities and rural areas that fall outside the perimeter of a regional operator such as an SRM. If your area is not served by SRM Casablanca-Settat, SRM Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, or SRM Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, your utility bill most likely comes from ONEE.
SRM Casablanca-Settat (formerly Lydec)
As of October 2024, water and electricity management in the Casablanca-Settat region transferred to the new regional utility SRM Casablanca-Settat, following Veolia's sale of its stake in Lydec.
SRM Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (formerly Redal)
The regional utility for water, electricity, and sewage across Rabat, Sale, and Kenitra. SRM Rabat-Sale-Kenitra officially took over on June 1, 2025, part of the same Law 83-21 reform that replaced Lydec in Casablanca. Redal's own contract keeps running day-to-day service in parts of its former area until 2028, so a bill or van marked Redal is normal for now even though SRM oversees the region's investment and strategy.
SRM Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (formerly Amendis)
The regional utility for water, electricity, and sewage across Tangier, Tetouan, and the wider Al Hoceima region. SRM Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima replaced Amendis on September 1, 2025, ending more than two decades of private management under Veolia, as part of the same Law 83-21 reform that replaced Lydec and Redal elsewhere in the country.
Butane Gas
Bottled butane gas, not piped natural gas, is how most Moroccan homes cook and often heat water, since a piped gas network barely exists outside a few industrial zones. The familiar small blue cylinders (bonbonnes, 3kg, 6kg or 12kg) are sold at hanouts, dedicated gas depots, and via delivery, at a state-subsidized fixed price that does not move with international energy prices. You pay a refundable deposit the first time you take a cylinder home, then simply exchange an empty one for a full one afterward rather than getting it refilled on the spot. Home delivery works the same way, just brought to your door: the two largest distributors, Afriquia Gaz and TotalEnergies Maroc, both run order-and-deliver services, and smaller independent depots in most neighborhoods will deliver too if you ask, often the same day. To order, either call your building's usual gas depot (ask a neighbor or your landlord which one they use) or use a distributor's app: Afriquia's Allo Gaz app lets you order a bottle, pay by card, on delivery, or with loyalty points, and track the delivery in real time. TotalEnergies offers a similar order form on its website, though its own fast (under one hour) delivery is currently limited to a few Casablanca neighborhoods; elsewhere, expect delivery within a few hours rather than instantly. Either way, the driver swaps your empty cylinder for a full one at your door and you pay the subsidized price on the spot, cash or card depending on the service; there is nothing to sign up for in advance.
Brand and service information can change: companies rebrand, merge, or shut down. If you notice something outdated, let us know through our contact page.