Morocco and the African Development Bank have signed a €270 million agreement to upgrade airports in Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fez. The loan is reported to cover about 31% of PEMIA's cost, with ONDA funding the rest through Morocco.
At a ceremony in Casablanca on 29 September 2026, Morocco and the African Development Bank (AfDB) signed a €270 million financing agreement for the Airport Infrastructure Extension and Modernization Program (PEMIA). By 2030, the programme targets annual capacity of 14 million passengers at Marrakech, 5 million at Agadir, 3.6 million at Tangier and 3 million at Fez, according to figures reported by H24info.
Le Barlamane reported that AfDB financing is expected to cover about 31% of PEMIA's total cost. Morocco will fund the remaining 69% through the National Airports Office (ONDA), according to the report. Coverage also indicates that the AfDB Board approved the financing in December 2025. That approval came first. The Casablanca ceremony marked the signing and execution step. Coverage by Morocco's state news agency, MAP, offers a regional account of the agreement and its stated infrastructure goals.
PEMIA is designed to upgrade airport infrastructure, expand air navigation systems and improve safety and security. Planned equipment includes security systems, automated baggage handling and digital tools to make passenger journeys more efficient. These are programme goals, not proof that the work is complete. The announcement does not give schedules for individual construction projects. Targets, not results.
The four airports' targets sit within a wider national plan. Separate reporting on Morocco's "Airports 2030" roadmap puts current airport capacity at roughly 34 million passengers, with a goal of about 80 million by 2030. The plan calls for wider airport and aviation upgrades. The figures differ. The national goal is not the combined capacity target for PEMIA's four airports.
AfDB Group President Sidi Ould Tah said the financing would help modernize strategic hubs and increase their capacity. He said it would also help Morocco prepare for major international events. Ould Tah linked the operation to the Bank's Integrated Aviation Transformation Program in Africa. That programme supports modernization, financing and integration across African air transport systems.
The investment is part of a wider tourism push. Accor and Risma are pursuing a hotel-sector expansion in Morocco. PEMIA is expected to support tourism, trade and logistics activity, and create several thousand jobs in the short term, particularly for young people and women. Delivery will decide. Results will also depend on passenger demand and whether airport services can keep pace with the added capacity.
AfDB Group Country Manager in Morocco Achraf Tarsim and ONDA Director General Adel El Fakir signed the agreement. AfDB Group President Ould Tah and Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah chaired the ceremony. The ministry's participation places the financing within Morocco's public investment framework. Details of the domestic contribution and implementation will matter as the programme moves ahead. The Ministry of Economy and Finance is the government department named in coverage of the agreement.
Morocco now has to turn the financing and capacity goals into safe, working infrastructure at the four airports. The loan advances a broader effort to expand the country's aviation network. Its economic value will depend on timely delivery and on whether better airport services can support tourism, trade and passenger growth.
