Dakhla… Could It Become Morocco’s Gateway to Space?

By: Iman Alaoui / ALDAR

A bold debate is emerging about Morocco’s future and the possibility of transforming Dakhla into a spaceport that could rival the world’s largest launch bases. This city, located at latitude 23.7°N, enjoys a geographic position close to the famous Cape Canaveral in the United States, from which most space missions are launched—an advantage that grants it rare strategic potential. Its desert climate, with clear skies for around 320 days a year, makes the region an ideal environment for safe and regular launches, particularly since the area is sparsely populated and the Atlantic Ocean provides open trajectories for rockets.

The major projects underway in the south, foremost among them the Dakhla Atlantic Port, add a practical dimension to this vision. They provide advanced infrastructure capable of hosting a fully integrated space logistics hub, powered by solar and wind energy, turning the region into a clean and sustainable reservoir. With private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab driving the space industry forward, the demand for new launch sites has become pressing—further strengthening Dakhla’s case as a strategic option. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has already surpassed 300 successful launches, while Blue Origin is banking on its New Shepard project for suborbital space tourism. This sector was valued at $1 billion in 2023 and is expected to soar to $20 billion by 2033.

Morocco is no stranger to this field, having gained significant experience through the successful launch of advanced satellites such as Mohammed VI-A and Mohammed VI-B. This provides the Kingdom with a scientific and technical foundation upon which greater ambitions can be built. The notion of establishing a “Moroccan Space Agency” is no longer just a luxury or a dream but a realistic idea in light of the country’s growing aspirations and its rising status in Africa. As the near future is set to witness an intensifying race to harness space for scientific research, communications, and tourism, Morocco may well find in Dakhla its grand gateway into this industry—consolidating its role as a bridge between continents and a new player in shaping the future.