Fez – The Dakhla Atlantic Port is steadily taking shape on Morocco’s southern Atlantic coast, with construction works now 62% complete, according to project officials.
The large-scale project is overseen by the Ministry of Equipment and Water, and it is designed to transform the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region into a major maritime and logistics center while strengthening Morocco’s role in regional and international trade.
A report by the website le360 quoted Nisrine Iouzzi, director of planning and project monitoring for the port, as insisting that construction continues at a strong pace despite the challenges posed by the open-sea environment.
One of the most advanced parts of the project is the 1.3-kilometer maritime bridge linking the future port island to the mainland.
The structure is now 85% complete and will soon allow heavy equipment and materials to be transported directly to offshore construction areas.
Work is also progressing on the port’s protective breakwaters, which are 45% complete.
The project relies on Cubipod concrete blocks arranged in a double layer to protect the port from strong Atlantic waves. The first layer of this protective armor has already reached 80% completion.
Meanwhile, the creation of land platforms continues. The first reclaimed area is 60% complete, using a circular approach that combines materials sourced from land with sediments recovered during dredging operations.
Construction has also begun on the port’s second basin, dedicated to commercial activities.
Project officials aim to complete the land platforms and deliver a first quay before the end of this year.
The quay, which will have a depth of 12 meters, will be dedicated to the fishing industry, a key sector for the local economy.
It is expected to support the processing and export of seafood products directly from the region.
A second quay, with a depth of 14 meters, is also entering a crucial phase.
Its design has been finalized, and prefabrication of its components is expected to begin soon.
This terminal will handle heavy equipment needed for renewable energy projects, particularly those linked to green hydrogen development.
The entire port project remains on schedule for completion by the end of 2028.
Building a port from scratch in an open marine environment is considered one of the most complex engineering challenges in the sector.
The project requires moving more than 30 million cubic meters of materials while preserving coastal and marine ecosystems.
Moroccan engineers, construction firms and technical experts are leading the project, showcasing the country’s growing expertise in major port infrastructure.
Their experience builds on previous projects developed under Morocco’s National Port Strategy, including Tanger Med II and Nador West Med.
Beyond infrastructure
Project managers are also applying the highest quality assurance standards, while occasionally consulting international experts and studying similar projects abroad to strengthen technical expertise and share experience.
Beyond its economic role, Dakhla Atlantic Port is increasingly becoming part of Morocco’s broader energy strategy.
Authorities have recently integrated the port into the country’s green hydrogen roadmap, positioning it as a potential export gateway for the emerging sector.
The project’s master plan has therefore evolved toward a more ambitious industrial and logistics vision, driven both by Morocco’s international energy ambitions and growing interest from investors.
The future port is expected to operate as a smart and green port, combining digital technologies with low-carbon infrastructure and facilities capable of handling new generations of vessels.
Dakhla Atlantic Port also carries an important geopolitical dimension.
Morocco sees the infrastructure as a gateway connecting African countries, particularly landlocked nations in the Sahel, to the Atlantic Ocean.
The port is expected to facilitate trade with North and South America while strengthening regional integration.
For Moroccan authorities, the project goes beyond infrastructure.
It is intended to support the development of the southern provinces by attracting investment, creating jobs and increasing exports of Moroccan and African products to international markets.
