Casablanca Calling

The Moroccan city is racing toward the future with its eyes on the 2030 World Cup: major infrastructure projects, finance, and startups are turning it into Africa’s most ambitious metropolis. A cradle of a new generation of young people—educated and open to the world, creative and bold

AFRICA | MAROCCO | SOCIAL ISSUES | CURRENT AFFAIRS

Casablanca (Morocco), a girl looks out from the VOG Café, overlooking United Nations Square: she is one of many extras playing the role of Moroccan soccer team fans hired to shoot a telephone commercial.

“Casablanca? After 2030 we’ll be better than Europe,” says a taxi driver outside the Hassan II Mosque. Here along the Atlantic coast, there is eager anticipation for the 2030 football World Cup, and for this reason the world’s largest stadium is being built on the outskirts of the metropolis. This is not Casablanca’s only record: the former port of Anfa is now the largest city in north-western Africa, the economic capital of the Maghreb, capable of attracting investment from the EU and China and gathering the country’s best startups. Africa’s first high-speed rail line starts in Casablanca (and runs to Tangier), and in 2010 King Mohammed VI created the dynamic CFC (Casablanca Finance City) here—a special-status district that has become Africa’s leading financial hub.

A true gateway to the continent, the metropolis is above all a young city: here a new African generation is coming of age—educated and self-aware, inclusive and open to the world, close to Islamic traditions yet bold and creative. A generation that is critical, especially of the government. Because while Casablanca is soaring and looking ahead, Morocco as a whole is struggling to take off. “A large part of the country has no hospitals, and schools are falling apart,” says Kenza Baladel, an activist with the Party of Progress and Socialism. In 2025, thousands of Gen Z young people took to the streets to protest, giving voice to frustration and discontent. Morocco has invested heavily in infrastructure but lags behind in human development, and outside Casablanca or Rabat it struggles to create quality jobs. Casablanca is the country’s locomotive—but will it manage to reconcile economic development with social cohesion?

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Casablanca (Morocco), young people ice skate at Adventureland, an amusement park inside the Morocco Mall, which, at nearly 600,000 square meters, is considered the largest shopping center in Africa.

Casablanca (Morocco), a DJ plays music at the Vanity Club, a nightclub on Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), two boys bathe in the sea water that partially surrounds the Hassan II Mosque, inaugurated in 1993 and considered the third largest in the world.

Casablanca (Morocco), young political activists greet each other and shake hands before a political meeting at the headquarters of the PPS, Parti du progrès et du socialisme (Party of Progress and Socialism).

Casablanca (Morocco), at night, a man gazes out at the Atlantic Ocean, sitting on one of the many plastic chairs abandoned on the beach along Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), tattoo artist Recky is photographed by a friend in the studio where she works as a tattoo artist, Savage Ink Tattoo Studio in the historic center. Tattoos are not prohibited in Morocco but are often still viewed negatively.

Casablanca (Morocco), at the MOW coworking space, Ali Kettani, 38, talks with a graphic designer. Ali is the owner of the coworking space, which opened in 2022, and of the advertising design company Archigram. “Casablanca,” he says, “has changed a lot in the last 10 years, and today it is truly the most important North African metropolis.”

Casablanca (Morocco), a group of Moroccan and international students attending hip hop dance classes at Studio 7 Dance.

Casablanca (Morocco), two young men dressed as Mickey Mouse and a Smurf outside the Morocco Mall, which, at almost 600,000 square meters, is considered the largest shopping center in Africa.

Casablanca (Morocco), 36-year-old artist Rebel Spirit—stage name of Mohammed Amine El Bellaoui—observes one of his works in his studio/atelier, which was once the house where he lived with his parents. A street artist and musician, he is best known as a cartoonist (an art form through which he has often portrayed and described the strengths and weaknesses of Casablanca).

Casablanca (Morocco), a man on the phone on the balcony of one of the Turquoise Towers, luxurious newly built buildings overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Hassan II Mosque.

Casablanca (Morocco), Casablanca Finance City, students chat at the entrance to ESCA School of Management, one of Africa's leading business schools. Created in 2010, Casablanca Finance City (CFC) is one of Africa's most important financial centers.

Casablanca (Morocco), children enjoy wall climbing at Adventureland, a playground inside Morocco Mall, which, at nearly 600,000 square meters, is considered the largest shopping center in Africa.

Casablanca (Morocco), young people dance at Mer a Boire, a bar on Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated district with restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), Casablanca Finance City, female students stroll through Parc de l'Aéropostale alongside some university students. Created in 2010, Casablanca Finance City (CFC) is one of the most important African financial centers.

Casablanca (Morocco), the entrance to the MOW coworking space, opened in 2022 in the city center. Coworking spaces are becoming increasingly popular in Casablanca, frequented by both Moroccan and foreign workers.

Casablanca (Morocco), Moroccan artist Badr El Hammami (center) explains the meaning of his exhibition, “Entre nos mains” (In our hands), to a couple of friends during the opening at the French Institute of Casablanca.

Casablanca (Morocco), an elegant gentleman takes a selfie between the tram tracks in the center of Mohammed V Square, also known as “pigeon square.” Designed by French urban planner Henri Prost in 1916, the square has become one of the symbols of French colonialism in the city.

Casablanca (Morocco), the interior of the Morocco Mall, which, at almost 600,000 square meters, is considered the largest shopping center in Africa.

Casablanca (Morocco), two boys exercise on the promenade along the Atlantic Ocean with the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world, in the background.

Casablanca (Morocco), two architects at work in the Oualalou + Choi architecture firm in the city center. Among other projects, the firm designed the Grand Stade Hassan I for the 2030 World Cup, which will also be held in Morocco. With a capacity of 115,000 spectators, it will become the largest soccer stadium in the world.

Casablanca (Morocco), a girl in a miniskirt withdraws cash from an ATM at night along Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated area with restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), Moroccan artist Ayoub Amrani at the Villa des Arts, where some of his works are on display at the “Yallah' Afrika!” exhibition, which brings together young artists from all over Africa to mark the Africa Cup of Nations (held in Morocco in 2025).

Casablanca (Morocco), the courts of the CMC Tennis Club with the Arab League Park in the background. Tennis is quite a popular sport in Morocco, home to the only ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tournament on the African continent.

Casablanca (Morocco), students during gym class at the La Casablancaise sports center, next to Arab League Park.

Casablanca (Morocco), young people dance and take selfies with a burlesque dancer at the Vanity Club, a venue on Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated district full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), a student leaves the EMSI (Ecole Marocaine Des Sciences De L'Ingenieur). Founded in 1986 as the country's first engineering school and currently the most important, it offers advanced training in civil, electronic, and aeronautical engineering.

Casablanca (Morocco), a boy performs on roller skates in front of some friends at the skatepark in Place Nevada.

Casablanca (Morocco), young political activist Adam Samine (left) and two fellow politicians prepare a speech at the headquarters of the PPS, Parti du progrès et du socialisme (Party of Progress and Socialism).

Casablanca (Morocco), the Grand Theater overlooking Mohammed V Square, also known as “Pigeon Square.” Completed in 2020 at a cost of approximately €130 million, it was still closed to the public in December 2025 (date of photograph).

Casablanca (Morocco), a couple sitting at a table in the Vanity Club, a bar on Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), aerial view of the historic center with the Hassan II Mosque (inaugurated in 1993 and considered the third largest in the world) and the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

Casablanca (Morocco), at the International Fair, entrepreneurs and businessmen chat while sitting on sofas at a stand at Sistep, Morocco's leading industrial fair.

Casablanca (Morocco), girls laugh and joke while sitting on a sofa at the DjaDja Afro Club, a bar on Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), on a building in a residential neighborhood, a mural depicting a boy with a soccer ball. After its success in 2022 (the first African team to qualify for the World Cup semifinals), Morocco will host the World Cup in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal.

Casablanca (Morocco), two friends sitting in a taxi look up the address of a shop on a smartphone map.

Casablanca (Morocco), two girls chat under the installation “From One Arch to Another” by French artist Daniel Buren, which stands near the arches of the old prison, demolished in 1916. Designed in that same year during the French protectorate and renovated in 2018, this green lung in the city center covers an area of 30 hectares.

Casablanca (Morocco), the opening of the exhibition “Entre nos mains” (In our hands) by Moroccan artist Badr El Hammami at the French Institute of Casablanca.

Casablanca (Morocco), Mehdi Tampli talks to a colleague at the headquarters of his marketing company NHS. The headquarters is also a coworking space called 133.

Casablanca (Morocco), two girls sitting at a table take a selfie at the Vanity Club, a bar on Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), a girl reads the menu at a table at Bliss Rooftop, a bar and restaurant on the eleventh floor of the Radisson Hotel in the Gauthier district, overlooking the Arab League Park.

Casablanca (Morocco), Muslim worshippers chat while sitting on a fountain outside the Hassan II Mosque, inaugurated in 1993 and considered the third largest in the world.

Casablanca (Morocco), at the Casa Anfa racecourse, horses are warmed up before the start of a race. Horses are very popular in Morocco, a tradition that has its roots in the ancient Berber horsemen.

Casablanca (Morocco), two girls check their phones after getting out of a taxi along Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), medical students stroll through the gardens of Moulay Youssef Hospital after class. In 2025, Generation Z protested in the squares of many Moroccan cities, partly due to the disastrous conditions in many of the country's hospitals.

Casablanca (Morocco), the Sacred Heart Church illuminated during a celebration organized by Royal Air Maroc. Dating back to 1930, the church was designed by architect Paul Tournon, blending Gothic lines, Art Deco style, and Arabic architecture.

Casablanca (Morocco), two girls take a selfie in the center of Mohammed V Square, also known as “pigeon square,” designed by French urban planner Henri Prost in 1916 and now one of the symbols of French colonialism in the city.

Casablanca (Morocco), young people at Mer a Boire, a bar on Boulevard de la Corniche, in the Ain-Diab area, a lively and sophisticated neighborhood with restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Casablanca (Morocco), a woman looks out over the Atlantic Ocean from the terrace of the Morocco Mall, which, at nearly 600,000 square meters, is considered the largest shopping center in Africa.

Casablanca (Morocco), at the Club Bidaoua Des Sports (housed in the Larbi-Benbarek stadium), a teacher instructs his young students in karate.

Casablanca (Morocco), view of the Hassan II Mosque from the gardens along the promenade next to the Turquoise Towers, luxurious newly built buildings overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Casablanca (Morocco), men walk during the day alongside the southern portico of the old medina, where lively and colorful food markets coexist in a crumbling and semi-abandoned urban structure.

Casablanca (Morocco), teenagers play video games at “Gaming Zone,” an arcade inside the old medina.

Casablanca (Morocco), French Institute of Casablanca, students work and chat in one of the library rooms.

Casablanca (Morocco), girls stroll during the day under the Zevaco dome in United Nations Square. The dome is named after Jean-François Zevaco, a French-Moroccan modernist architect.

Casablanca (Morocco), a street in the historic center lined with buildings constructed during the French protectorate, from 1912 to 1956, a period that saw the flourishing of colonial architecture blending Art Deco, European modernism, and Moorish motifs.

Casablanca (Morocco), tourists and Muslim worshippers shelter from the rain under a portico outside the Hassan II Mosque, inaugurated in 1993 and considered the third largest in the world.

Casablanca (Morocco), a glimpse of the city's old medina where lively and colorful food markets coexist in a crumbling and semi-abandoned urban structure.