The Moroccan government has announced plans to invest $36 million dedicated to establishing a specialised gaming zone in Rabat, its capital.
The gaming zone which is to be known as the “Rabat Gaming City” will be a specialized zone dedicated to gaming in Rabat’s Yacoub Mansour district.
According to Mehdi Bensaïd, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, the City is one of the key figures driving the project forward.
“Morocco is making a bold move to become a leader in the video game industry in Africa and the Arab world with the creation of the Rabat Gaming City, spanning five hectares and requiring an initial investment of 360 million dirhams,” the Minister said.
“This expansive project will feature a fully integrated ecosystem, including coworking spaces, recording studios, and high-tech conference halls. The goal is twofold: attract major industry players like Ubisoft and EA Games while fostering the growth of local Moroccan studios.
“This significant development, a centrepiece in the Morocco’s 2025 Finance Bill, aligns with the ambitions to position itself as a leading gaming industry player in both Africa and the Middle East.
“The gaming zone in Rabat will serve as a hub for game development, coding, and professional training, as well as offer resources and support to local gaming startups,” he added.
He explained further that the Moroccan government hopes the infrastructure will foster a thriving ecosystem for the gaming industry, eventually generating jobs, attracting foreign talents and investment, and creating a sustainable revenue stream.
“The new gaming zone could create up to 5,000 jobs and yield 5 billion dirhams in revenue by 2030,” Bensaïd projected, emphasising the potential of Morocco’s youth to excel in tech-driven fields like game development.
“Morocco’s commitment to the gaming industry has also garnered international attention. Rabat is set to host the second edition of an international gaming expo next year, following the successful debut of the Morocco Gaming Expo,” he said.