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Morocco

Morocco
	Capital	Rabat
	Population	34,859,364
	Area	446,550 sq km
	Language	Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
	Currency	Morocco, Dirham (MAD)
		1.000000DH (MAD) = 0.119689$ (USD)

Morocco is emerging as possibly and unlikely but nevertheless interesting retirement option.  Its mild climate, very low cost of living and political stability, makes it a location worth considering.  King Mohammed VI who succeeded to the throne 1999, is a dynamic monarch who has brought substantial reform to Morocco and the country enjoys cordial relations with Europe and the U.S.

Morocco’s heritage is a wonderful mix of Arabian, French, Jewish and Berber. Magnificent mountains, beautiful beaches, colourful  art, architecture, and culture have drawn increasing numbers of  travellers here over the years. The official language is Moroccan Arabic; the second language is French, which is used in business and government circles.  English is increasingly widely spoken due to the astonishing growth in the country’s tourism which is expected to reach a high of 10 million visitors this year.

With a population of 30.5 million Morocco has a high literacy rate – 51% for males and 42% for females; but it is still an essentially male dominated society and there are places where women and men sit separately, and even coffee houses that do not allow women.  The government is keen to legislate in favour of women’s rights and the country is taking big steps in this area of society.  The family unit and Islam are the two most important aspects of national identity.

The climate, which is described as subtropical encourages a very outdoor life; heating is rarely required anywhere. There are variations depending on where you live, so the coastline areas are mild and the inland regions can be hot and dry…so something for all tastes.  Skiing, hiking, trekking, tennis and beach activities help to make life here relaxed and expats, even on relatively low fixed incomes can lead a very nice life.

Although tourism is mostly concentrated around popular destinations like Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Tangiers, there is a largely underdeveloped region on the eastern, and arguably the nation’s most beautiful coastline which is gradually turning into what will be known as Mediterrania-Saidia – a development of six opulent resorts complete with golf courses, marinas, luxury hotels and thousands of luxury apartments and villas. The government, with the backing of the King –Mohammed IV is investing some $4.4 billion in the project which is expected to attract 500,000 visitors by 2012.

There is also increased public investment in ports, housing development projects, and roads which has led to a boom in the real estate sector. In fact, Morocco is currently being touted as the most popular retirement destination among Europeans. Most of the demand in Morocco is for moderate housing, and a decrease in lending rates has made home-ownership easier.

Interesting options
Marrakech: was built in 1070 AD and is an exotic city with palaces, open markets, houses with archways and courtyards and gardens filled with riotous tropical plants. It sits at the foot of the Atlas mountains which gives the city an added drama.

Fes: was founded in 789Ad is the oldest city and was the capital of the country for over 400 years. Known as the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Casablanca: made famous by the film of the same name, is a French built city, which is modern and quite unlike other medieval towns. As well as being a popular tourist resort it is attracting increasing numbers of expats.
Unlike most countries in the Middle East, Morocco has for a long time encouraged foreigners to purchase and invest in property in the Kingdom. Foreign citizens can freely buy, rent and invest in land and real estate in Morocco (except agricultural land).

Health and Senior Living
Medical and dental services are increasingly good, especially in the bigger cities and many expats pay for treatment as required because it is so cheap; however, private health insurance plans are available.

There is no pensioners visa and nothing aimed specifically at attracting foreign retirees, but there is no double taxation and although a pension is considered taxable income, the rate is around 10% which is significantly less than elsewhere.  It is worth checking with your pension provider however, that you can receive your income abroad.

All visitors to Morocco require a valid passport but visitors from most countries do not need to obtain visas before arriving. Those that do need to apply beforehand should do so through the Moroccan Embassy in their country. Visas are valid for 3 months.  Once in country visas can be extended but it is a bureaucratic and tedious process so it may be easier to leave the country on a visa run.

Infrastructure and safety
In the towns and cities roads are generally good and there is massive investment in the highways that link the main the coastal cities. Driving is generally erratic, accompanied by much honking of horns and you are as likely to come across a horse and cart as anything else.  Motorised bikes are common also and most locals travel by taxis-buses, which take several passengers at once and make several stops, which makes them very cheap.

The electricity system needs investment so although it is inexpensive, it is somewhat intermittent.  Telephone systems are fairly efficient though the mobile phone craze has hit here much like anywhere else and there is a good GSM system. Moroccans have also taken to the internet and there are numerous internet cafes which open late into the night and are always busy. Internet speed is a little slow in the rural areas but excellent in the north.

Violent crime is rare, but petty thievery, particularly in the busy tourist areas is nothing new. Just take care to dress appropriately, particularly women- skimpy clothes and bare midrifts will be offensive to Moroccans.

The cost of living is definitely increasing, but Westerners can have a very high standard of living. Morocco has a strong agricultural output and a stable economy, despite the global credit crunch, and healthy, freshly grown food is freely available all year round.  Moroccans are friendly and helpful and the youngsters have great respect for older members of the family.