Business
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Tax-exempt for certain 'Auto-Entrepreneur' statuses under 500,000 MAD annual turnover (approx. 1-2% tax)
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 8,500 MAD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 340,000 MAD / $34k)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,000 MAD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 240,000 MAD / $24k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 8,000 MAD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 480,000 MAD / $48k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,500 MAD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 330,000 MAD / $33k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 7,500 MAD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 600,000 MAD / $60k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,000 MAD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 400,000 MAD / $40k)
- Corporate Tax
- Progressive rates up to 31% (Lower rates available for 'CFC' status companies in Morocco)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% (Reduced if tax treaty exists)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 38% for income over 180,000 MAD
- VAT
- 20% standard rate; basic goods are 7-10%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Morocco has anti-avoidance rules for foreign shell companies
- Property Tax
- Taxe d'Habitation (Residents) and Taxe de Services Communaux
- Property Transaction Tax
- Registration fee (4%), Notary fees (approx. 1%), Land registry (1.5%)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The edge of the Falaises (Cliffs) overlooking the Atlantic near Foum El Bouir
- Birdwatching Locations
- The lagoon area - home to Flamingos and many migratory species
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Desert camps like Zenith or Ocean Vagabond (organized beach fires)
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Dragon Island (Île du Dragon) - Accessible by walking during low tide
- National Parks Nearby
- The Dakhla National Park (Biological interest zone for migratory birds)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 5km Corniche walkway along the Atlantic coast
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex Dakhla and Amana (Post Office)
- Tech Repair Services
- Techno Sahra (Av. El Walaa) for laptop/smartphone repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Common room at Dakhla Spirit Camp
- Language Classes
- Association Culturelle Dakhla (Arabic/French classes)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliothèque Municipale de Dakhla
- Community Centers
- Centre de Jeunesse (Youth Center) near the stadium
- Gaming Lounges
- PlayStation Cafes found in the Hay Salam neighborhood
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is not legally permitted)
Essentials
- City
- Dakhla, Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco
- Population
- 106,000
- Internet Speed
- Starlink is now common in desert camps (150 Mbps); 4G/LTE (30 Mbps) is reliable in the city center via Maroc Telecom
- Currency & Banking
- Moroccan Dirham (MAD). 1 USD ≈ 10.10 MAD, 1 EUR ≈ 10.95 MAD
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (Sidi Ali/Ain Saiss) or filtered water systems
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Maroc Telecom (best coverage), Inwi, and Orange. 10GB data costs approx. 100 MAD ($10)
- Banking for Expats
- Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Populaire; Wise and Revolut work at ATMs like BMCE
- Accommodation
- Kite-surfing resorts (lagoon side) and modern apartments in the city center
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly cash-based; hotels and upscale restaurants accept cards, but local souks and taxis require MAD
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; prices range from 400 MAD to 1,500 MAD per night
- Budget Accommodation
- Dakhla Spirit (Surf House) or Maison d'Hôtes (approx. 250 MAD/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Lagoon (25km north) for watersports and luxury eco-lodges
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- City Center (Hay El Hassani or Corniche) for proximity to cafes and faster local fiber
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Dakhla For Work (Av. de la Marine) - Approx. 150 MAD per day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Café Restaurant Samarkand (Corniche) - Great view, stable Wi-Fi, and strong coffee
- Networking Events
- Dakhla Kitesurf World Cup (annual event attracting entrepreneurs and athletes)
- Social Events for Expats
- Weekly meetups at Ocean Vagabond (Lagoon) and Facebook group 'Expats in Dakhla'
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Careem; use 'Petit Taxis' (Blue). Flat rate within city approx. 10 MAD; 100-150 MAD to the Lagoon
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Dakhla Ride (City Center) - Scooter rental approx. 250 MAD/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Foum El Bouir (best for surfing) and Puertito
- Top Regional Airline
- Royal Air Maroc (RAM) connects to Casablanca daily
- Top International Airline
- Transavia (direct flights from Paris), Binter Canarias (from Gran Canaria)
- Highway Access
- N1 Highway (National Route 1) connects Dakhla to Laayoune and Mauritania
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; CTM Bus Station (Av. Mohammed V) is the main hub for regional travel
- Public Transport Passes
- None; transportation relies on shared 'Grand Taxis' or local buses
- Regional Travel
- Supratours or CTM buses to Laayoune or Agadir (approx. 250-500 MAD)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hassan II Regional Hospital (Dakhla City Center)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- PK25 Yoga Studio (Lagoon side) - Drop-in classes approx. 150 MAD
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- City Fitness Dakhla (Hay Salam) - 300 MAD/month
- Laundry Services
- Pressing Moderne (Av. El Walaa) - Approx. 20 MAD per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Jumia Food (limited service); mostly direct call-and-deliver from local spots
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Camel Steak/Tajine and Fresh Grilled Oysters (from Parcs Ostréicoles)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Talhamar Restaurant (Seafood focus but offers great vegetable Tajines)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pâtisserie El Ghali - Traditional Moroccan cookies and pastries
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Marché Central (Souk) for fresh spices, dates, and produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Jumia.ma (Delivery can take 4-7 days to the south)
- Grocery Delivery
- Local grocery stores handle phone orders; use 'Glovo' if available intermittently
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Dakhla is conservative; nightlife is limited to hotel bars like West Point or Dakhla Attitude
- Local Brewery
- No local breweries; alcohol is served only in licensed tourist hotels
- Wine Bars
- La Table du Nomad (Lagoon) - Selection of Moroccan wines (Guerrouane/Sahari)
- Street Food Stalls
- Corniche Food Stalls - Grilled sardines and Harira soup (10-20 MAD)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Casa Luis (Spanish/Seafood) near the Port
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The White Dune (Dune Blanche) - A massive white sand dune in the middle of the lagoon
- Museums & Art Venues
- Small Sahrawi craft museum near the old Spanish Church
- Historical Sites
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Spanish Cathedral built in 1954)
- Religious Sites
- Al Masjid Al Atiq (The Old Mosque)
- Annual Events
- Festival International de la Mode Saharienne (Sahara Fashion Festival)
- Cultural Districts
- The Old Spanish Quarter (Spanish colonial architecture remnants)
- Theater Venues
- Maison de la Culture (Local community cultural center)
- Local Markets
- Souk d'El Massira - Best for Sahrawi Melhfas (traditional fabric)
- Music Scene
- Traditional Sahrawi Hassani music performances in desert camps
- Street Art
- Limited; mostly maritime-themed murals near the port entrance
- Cooking Classes
- Dakhla Attitude offers traditional Sahrawi tea ceremonies and bread-making classes
- Art Galleries
- Private galleries in luxury hotels like Heliophora
- Historic Buildings
- The old Spanish Lighthouse (Phare Espagnol)
- Local Heritage
- Sahrawi hospitality and the elaborate 3-glass tea ritual