Morocco's AI Landscape March 2025 – A Comprehensive Analysis of the Kingdom's Position in Artificial Intelligence
- Alick Mouriesse
- Mar 17
- 12 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
Morocco has emerged as a significant player in Africa's artificial intelligence landscape, driven by ambitious national strategies and strong commitment to digital transformation.
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Introduction
With the Digital Morocco 2025 strategy and broader Digital Morocco 2030 vision serving as guiding frameworks, the Kingdom has made remarkable strides in fostering an AI ecosystem that spans government institutions, private enterprises, research centers, and everyday users. Currently boasting an internet penetration rate of 88% and projecting e-commerce growth to 2.6 billion USD by 2029 (a 64% increase from 2024), Morocco has created fertile ground for AI innovation and adoption.
Historical Evolution of Morocco's AI Journey
Morocco's AI journey evolved through a series of strategic digital initiatives. Beginning with modest "e-Morocco 2010" efforts, the country progressed through "Digital Morocco 2013," "Digital Morocco 2020," and now the more AI-focused "Digital Morocco 2025" and "Digital Morocco 2030" visions. The turning point came around 2020, when Morocco ranked fourth in "Digital Risers" of the MENA region, signaling growing digital competitiveness.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption through remote work and e-commerce but also highlighted social divides. By 2023-2024, attention shifted explicitly toward artificial intelligence as a strategic pillar of Morocco's digital transformation, leading to today's robust AI ecosystem.
Government Strategy and Regulatory Framework
The Digital Morocco 2025 strategy aims to achieve over 85% satisfaction in digital public services, establish Morocco as a top digital hub in Africa, and support the growth of over 2,500 startups by 2025. Building on this foundation, the Digital Morocco 2030 vision focuses on creating 300,000 jobs in the digital sector, developing a robust digital economy with a projected contribution of 170 billion DH to the national GDP, and increasing the number of startups to 3,000.
In April 2024, a parliamentary opposition group in the Moroccan House of Councilors submitted a bill to regulate AI use, proposing the creation of a National Agency for Artificial Intelligence. This agency would be responsible for implementing, monitoring, and updating the national AI strategy in line with global developments. The bill highlighted potential misuses of AI, including cyber-attacks, deep fake videos, and misinformation, emphasizing the need for regulatory oversight.
By late 2024, Morocco accelerated efforts to regulate AI, aligning with UNESCO's AI ethics guidelines. Minister of Digital Transition Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni confirmed plans to establish a specialized agency or committee for artificial intelligence, encompassing digital, legal, and sociological dimensions. This was followed by a national debate on AI to coordinate with various stakeholders within a unified vision tailored to Morocco's context.
Research and Innovation Ecosystem
Moroccan universities have emerged as important hubs for AI innovation. Researchers are developing smart farming solutions that utilize AI algorithms to optimize crop production by analyzing weather patterns and soil data. These technologies are particularly crucial for Morocco, where agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy.
In healthcare, students and faculty are collaborating on AI-driven tools for early disease detection and improved patient care. Projects focus on machine learning algorithms that analyze medical images, enabling faster and more accurate diagnosis. Environmental sustainability is another active research area, with AI being used to monitor pollution levels and analyze climate change data.
The research ecosystem benefits from partnerships between universities and international institutions. The Mohammed VI Polytechnique University (UM6P) has become a knowledge partner for major AI events like the GenAI Summit, facilitating access to cutting-edge research and thought leadership. Research and development centers in cities like Oujda, Rabat, and Fez focus on AI advancements and their practical applications, strengthening Morocco's position as an AI research hub in Africa.
Private Sector Adoption and Transformation
The private sector has witnessed growing AI adoption, with businesses across various industries leveraging AI to enhance operations and competitiveness. A significant initiative in this regard is the "Génération AI" program launched by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and LinkedIn. This program aims to help 1,000 Moroccan SMEs adopt artificial intelligence by providing LinkedIn learning licenses and specialized AI training until September 2025.
This initiative addresses a critical need, as a recent PwC report revealed that 27% of African business leaders have adopted generative AI, slightly below the global average of 32%. By enhancing entrepreneurs' AI skills, "Génération AI" aims to help Moroccan SMEs catch up and thrive in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The Enterprise-AI summit has also played a crucial role in showcasing how AI can drive business value through advanced analytics, predictive maintenance, and customer engagement, aligning with Morocco's ambitious goals for digital transformation and economic growth.
AI Applications Across Key Sectors
Smart Agriculture
Morocco utilizes AI to optimize agricultural yields through drones and sensors that analyze soil conditions, detect crop diseases, and recommend tailored solutions. These smart farming initiatives are modernizing this vital sector of Morocco's economy, addressing challenges like water scarcity and climate change impacts.
Healthcare Innovation
Moroccan hospitals are implementing AI systems for medical diagnostics that can detect diseases like diabetes or certain cancers through image analysis, improving early detection and treatment outcomes. Connected healthcare solutions enhance remote patient monitoring and telehealth services, expanding healthcare access beyond urban centers.
Urban Planning and Smart Cities
Sophisticated algorithms analyze traffic patterns to improve transportation efficiency and reduce congestion in urban areas. Technologies like QR codes and digital payments simplify transactions while fostering transparency. These innovations not only address current urban challenges but also reduce cities' ecological footprints, aligning with sustainability goals.
Financial Systems Modernization
AI is proving indispensable in modernizing Morocco's financial systems through real-time fraud detection and process automation. AI-driven financial inclusion initiatives help bring banking services to previously underserved populations, contributing to broader economic participation.
Preserving Cultural Heritage Through Technology
In commerce, AI is promoting Morocco's rich artisanal heritage through advanced analytics. Traditional crafts like pottery, ceramics, and jewelry gain visibility on digital platforms as AI analyzes consumer preferences and predicts market trends, empowering artisans and businesses to refine their marketing strategies. The rise of e-commerce and the global appeal of the "Made in Morocco" brand are a testament to this transformation.
Language Models and Localization Efforts
A significant development in Morocco's AI landscape is the focus on language models that support Arabic, particularly Moroccan Arabic dialects. In September 2024, a team of researchers led by MBZUAI France Lab developed a family of large language models focused on Moroccan Arabic language dialect (Darija). The researchers open-sourced two small language models: Atlas-Chat-2B and Atlas-Chat-9B, trained on Moroccan Arabic and other Arabic dialects as part of G42 Group's Jais LLM project. These models outperform existing Arabic-focused models in Moroccan Arabic, including Jais 13B, boosting performance in Darija-specific NLP tasks by 13%.
This development is particularly significant given that approximately 40 million people speak Moroccan colloquial Arabic. The Atlas-Chat project aims to make AI more accessible for Darija speakers by providing models with a higher level of understanding for the dialect, making them freely accessible via open-source licenses, and releasing small-size models that can be used in resource-constrained environments.
The Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) has also recommended developing a sovereign data language (Darija) to promote digital inclusion of all citizens regardless of their education level, making AI accessible across the Kingdom.
Investment Landscape and Funding Mechanisms
The investment ecosystem for AI in Morocco has matured significantly by 2025, with diverse funding sources supporting AI startups and initiatives. The CESE has recommended creating a public-private investment fund to promote innovation in AI and advanced digital technologies, providing seed funding and venture capital to aid AI startup projects.
Tax incentives have been introduced for businesses of all sizes, particularly VSEs and SMEs, that either leverage artificial intelligence to enhance productivity or collaborate with the AI research industry. The Investment Charter has been adapted to better respond to the specificities of AI-driven startups by reviewing eligibility criteria for investors.
International partnerships have played a crucial role in funding Morocco's AI ecosystem. The partnership between UAE's AI71 and Morocco's Ministry of Digital Transition is a prime example, with AI71 awarding $100,000 USD worth of compute power to four Morocco-based AI startups. Similarly, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has supported initiatives like CGEM's "Génération AI" program.
As Morocco positions itself as an AI hub in Africa, venture capital activity has increased, with investors recognizing the potential of Moroccan AI startups to address both local and regional challenges. The Digital Morocco 2030 vision aims to launch at least one Moroccan unicorn in the field of artificial intelligence, Fintech, or Agritech within five years, signaling the country's ambitions in the AI startup space.
Talent Development and Education Initiatives
Addressing the AI skills gap has been a priority for Morocco, with initiatives to integrate AI into education at various levels. The CESE has recommended systematically integrating AI into national education and training curricula and upgrading higher education programs in AI at universities and specialized colleges.
To address the shortage of trainers with AI expertise, training-of-trainers courses in artificial intelligence are being offered to people with scientific backgrounds like mathematicians. In February 2024, Morocco announced the establishment of two schools for artificial intelligence and digitization in the cities of Taroudant and Berkane, marking an unprecedented initiative in the North African kingdom.
The Ministry of Digital Transition plans to introduce new educational pathways in higher education and launch online training programs focused on AI. Additionally, awareness programs for different groups in society, including courses for children aged 8 to 14 and teenagers aged 15 to 18, are being offered across various regions.
These initiatives aim to develop a pipeline of AI talent to support the Digital Morocco 2030 goal of creating 300,000 jobs in the digital sector. By investing in education and training, Morocco is working to ensure that its workforce is equipped with the skills needed for the AI-driven economy of the future.
Competitive Analysis: Strengths and Challenges
Morocco has established itself as a significant player in Africa's AI landscape, with distinct advantages compared to regional competitors. The country's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East provides access to diverse markets and talent pools. With a high internet penetration rate of 88% and substantial investments in digital infrastructure, Morocco has created a solid foundation for AI development and adoption.
Another competitive advantage is Morocco's political stability and business-friendly environment, which attracts international partnerships and investments. The country's bilingual or multilingual workforce (with proficiency in Arabic, French, and increasingly English) enhances its capacity to develop AI solutions for diverse linguistic markets.
Morocco's early adoption of UNESCO's AI ethics guidelines positions it as a leader in responsible AI development in the region. The commitment to establishing a National Agency for AI Governance demonstrates the country's proactive approach to creating a regulatory framework that balances innovation with ethical considerations.
However, Morocco faces several challenges in maintaining and enhancing its competitive position. According to the CESE, obstacles include the lack of specific regulations for artificial intelligence in Moroccan law and the slow public release of data. AI startups face difficulties in securing funding, with eligibility requirements often ill-suited to their specific needs. The AI skills gap and lack of qualified specialists also obstruct the design of a high-performance AI ecosystem.
Social and Economic Impact
The integration of AI across various sectors is having profound social and economic impacts in Morocco. The Digital Morocco 2030 vision projects that the digital economy will contribute 170 billion DH to the national GDP, highlighting the economic significance of digital transformation and AI adoption.
Job creation is a central focus, with the goal of creating 300,000 jobs in the digital sector by 2030. While AI automation may displace some traditional jobs, it is also creating new opportunities in areas like AI development, data science, and digital services. The "Génération AI" program's focus on SMEs reflects an understanding that AI benefits should extend beyond large corporations to include smaller businesses that form the backbone of Morocco's economy.
AI is also contributing to social inclusion by making services more accessible. For instance, AI-powered translation services and the development of Darija language models help overcome language barriers, ensuring that more Moroccans can benefit from digital services regardless of their linguistic background.
In the public sector, AI is enhancing government services, with the Digital Morocco 2025 strategy aiming to achieve over 85% satisfaction in digital public services. The modernization of administrative services through digitization of procedures could save approximately 718 million working hours per year, equivalent to about 1% of GDP (more than 10 billion dirhams).
Future Outlook and Emerging Trends
Looking ahead, Morocco's AI landscape is poised for continued growth and evolution. In the near term, the implementation of the proposed National Agency for AI Governance and the full realization of initiatives like "Génération AI" will likely accelerate AI adoption across sectors. The GITEX Africa Morocco 2025 event (April 14-16, 2025) will showcase the latest AI innovations and strengthen Morocco's position as a hub for technology in Africa.
The summit will feature specialized industry summits, exclusive creative industry activations, and high-impact networking forums, designed to connect government officials, industry pioneers, investors, and entrepreneurs in groundbreaking discussions and collaborations.
With a reinforced focus on Africa's digital public infrastructure, emerging AI ecosystems, and cutting-edge technological advancements, this edition will further establish Morocco as a key player in the global tech landscape.
In the medium term, the goals of Digital Morocco 2030 will drive further integration of AI into the national economy. The vision of launching at least one Moroccan unicorn in AI, Fintech, or Agritech within five years reflects the ambition to create globally competitive AI companies rooted in Morocco8. The continued development of Arabic language models, particularly for Moroccan Darija, will enhance the accessibility and relevance of AI for the local population.
Long-term prospects will depend on Morocco's ability to address current challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities. The CESE's recommendation to prioritize AI-powered solutions in two or three key sectors (such as education, healthcare, and agriculture) could lead to deeper, more impactful AI integration in these areas. The development of a robust AI talent pipeline through education and training initiatives will be crucial for long-term success.
Conclusion
Morocco's AI landscape in March 2025 represents a remarkable journey of digital transformation, from modest beginnings to a comprehensive ecosystem spanning government, academia, and industry. The Kingdom's strategic vision, embodied in the Digital Morocco 2025 and 2030 initiatives, has provided a framework for coordinated development across sectors, while proposed regulatory structures like the National Agency for AI Governance aim to ensure responsible innovation.
Key strengths include Morocco's high internet penetration, strategic location, multilingual workforce, and growing roster of AI applications across sectors from agriculture to healthcare, finance, and urban planning. The development of Moroccan Arabic language models addresses a critical need for localized AI solutions, while initiatives like "Génération AI" are democratizing access to AI technologies for SMEs.
However, challenges remain in areas such as regulation, funding, talent development, and infrastructure. The digital divide, data availability, and ethical considerations also require ongoing attention to ensure AI benefits are widely and equitably distributed.
For Morocco to fully realize its AI potential, stakeholders must collaborate to implement the comprehensive recommendations proposed by bodies like the CESE, focusing on regulatory frameworks, funding mechanisms, education initiatives, and sector-specific AI solutions. International partnerships will continue to play a crucial role, bringing expertise, funding, and technical capabilities to supplement local resources.
As Morocco continues its AI journey, balancing innovation with ethical considerations and ensuring inclusive benefits will be essential for sustainable progress. With continued commitment to its digital vision and strategic implementation of AI initiatives, Morocco is well-positioned to strengthen its role as a leading AI hub in Africa and the broader MENA region, creating economic opportunities, enhancing public services, and improving quality of life for its citizens.
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