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Rabat – Morocco has launched an international architectural and engineering competition to rethink the design of Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, as part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s main air gateway.
The National Airports Office (ONDA) seeks proposals that combine architectural clarity with technical efficiency in a project that aims to reshape the airport into a structure aligned with international standards.
This initiative fits within Morocco’s wider ambition to strengthen its role as a regional hub for travel and logistics, at a time when the country prepares to host major global events, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
According to tender documents, ONDA has set an estimated budget of MAD 300 million ($32 million). The project intends to resolve structural inconsistencies that emerged over years of successive extensions, which left the airport with fragmented spaces and no unified visual identity.
The new plan calls for the integration of Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and the domestic terminal into a single architectural unit. This approach aims to create coherence across façades and interior spaces, giving the airport a clear and modern identity.
Work will include the redesign of Terminal 2’s façades facing both the city and the runway, with materials chosen for durability and environmental performance. The project also covers the reconfiguration of access areas, canopies, and exterior circulation, alongside a lighting system that enhances the site’s appearance at night without interfering with air traffic operations.
Authorities also place the passenger experience at the center of the redesign. The project introduces a new layout for circulation inside the airport to reduce congestion and simplify movement.
Plans include the expansion of customs exit zones and the creation of a new arrivals hall to ease pressure during peak periods. The redesign also sets clearer pathways at border control, with a structured separation between Moroccan passport holders and foreign travelers, as well as improved fast-track routes.
Check-in areas will expand through better use of underutilized spaces. A unified architectural charter will apply to shops, restaurants, and kiosks, ensuring consistency across commercial areas and ending the current visual disparity.
The project also covers the upgrade of sanitary facilities, the installation of automated systems, and the development of accessible routes for passengers with reduced mobility, in line with international standards.
One of the main challenges lies in maintaining full airport operations throughout the works. ONDA requires competing firms to submit precise phased plans that ensure continuity of services, while preserving safety, security, and passenger comfort.
Environmental performance forms a key component of the project. Proposals must include strong measures for energy efficiency, such as improved thermal insulation and enhanced acoustic treatment in waiting areas, VIP lounges, and offices to reduce aircraft noise.
The program also calls for sustainable maintenance solutions and low-consumption lighting systems supported by smart sensors that adjust brightness based on natural light conditions.
Through this overhaul, Morocco seeks to position Casablanca’s airport as a more coherent, efficient, and future-ready gateway.
