Oujda

Oujda is the capital of Morocco's Oriental region and the largest city in the northeast, sitting about 12 km west of the Algerian border and around 60 km south of the Mediterranean. Its position has long made it a gateway between Morocco, Algeria and the coast, giving the city a distinctive blend of Arab, Amazigh and Andalusian influences.

Founded in 994, Oujda grew around its old medina, where narrow alleys open onto souks and the thirteenth-century Grand Mosque stands near Bab Sidi Abdel Wahab, the main historic gate. Lalla Meriem Park and its small regional museum provide green space beside the old kasbah walls, while the oasis and shrine of Sidi Yahya lie just south of the city.

Neighbourhoods extend outward from the compact old centre, mixing traditional markets with modern avenues, cafés and shops. The city is known for Gharnati music, a form with Andalusian roots celebrated each year at the International Festival of Gharnati Music, and raï also has a strong local following. Nearby, the Beni Snassen mountains and the beach resort of Saïdia offer day trips within an hour or so.

Oujda is also an important eastern commercial and university centre. Mohammed First University, the Technopole Oujda business and technology zone near the airport, and cross-border trade all support the local economy, while its rail link to Casablanca via Fez and regular flights from Angads Airport connect the region to the rest of Morocco and Europe.

For travellers, Oujda works both as a practical entry point to eastern Morocco and as a destination for history, music, food and mountain or coastal excursions.