Morocco has opened a two-stage tender for a cable car in Fez. Bidders must account for the historic medina and its surroundings.
On October 8, 2026, the Regional Investment Centre of Fez-Meknes invited national and international companies and investors to compete, including consortia. The centre is seeking partners to design, build and operate the system, as Fez News reported. Applications are due January 9, 2027. One published notice sets the submission deadline at 4:30 p.m.
The proposed cable car would give visitors panoramic views of the historic medina while adding an aerial transport option around the old city.
The tender has two stages. First, officials will assess applicants' experience. They will also review preliminary technical feasibility and initial financial viability. Shortlisted candidates will then submit full proposals for final selection.
Preliminary technical scenarios describe a possible corridor of 1.5 to 3.5 kilometres between two elevated points near the old city. The final route and station locations remain undecided. So do the number of cabins and the investment cost. Bidders must examine peripheral alignments that avoid passing directly over Fes el-Bali. They are also expected to limit the visual impact of towers and cables, as well as stations. Photomontages may help assess how each option fits the historic landscape.
Protecting the medina and its surroundings is a central consideration. Fes el-Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and proposals are expected to address its heritage status and urban landscape. One published outline gives heritage considerations 30% of the indicative weight when comparing route options.
A separate indicative scoring framework covers second-stage proposals. Technical quality and dossier completeness carry 30%. The economic model and financing account for 20%. Delivery capacity gets 15%, with operations and maintenance worth another 15%. The heritage-and-landscape score includes environmental and safety considerations and carries 10%. Tourism appeal and mobility receive the remaining 10%.
Shortlisted candidates must submit a complete project package. Preselection does not mean the project has been awarded. Further studies, permits and approvals are required before construction can begin.
Fez would follow Agadir, home to Morocco's first cable car system. The route runs from the lower-city foothills near Tildi Bridge and the Danialand base station to the ruins of Agadir Oufella Kasbah. The journey takes between 7 and 14 minutes and reaches an altitude of more than 1,756 metres. Glass cabins look across the bay and marina, with views extending to the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlas Mountains. They are adapted for passengers with strollers and wheelchairs, Reuters reported.
The Fez tender concerns transport infrastructure, separate from tourism accommodation plans such as the Tangier resort plan. The next step is to assess applicants before shortlisted bidders prepare detailed proposals.
