AfDB Approves $316m Loan To Upgrade Morocco’s Airports For 2030 World Cup

AfDB Approves $316m Loan To Upgrade Morocco’s Airports For 2030 World Cup

By Niyi Busari 

Morocco has secured a €270 million ($316 million) loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to modernise and expand its airport infrastructure as part of preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The financing will support terminal expansion and the upgrade of airport equipment at key gateways including Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fez, all of which serve major tourist and commercial centres, the AfDB said in a statement.

The investment forms part of a broader national strategy to significantly boost airport capacity ahead of the tournament, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The government plans to invest 38 billion dirhams (approximately $4 billion) to increase annual passenger handling capacity to 80 million by 2030, up from the current 38 million.

Morocco’s infrastructure push comes amid a sustained surge in tourism. The country, Africa’s most visited destination in 2024, set a new benchmark in 2025, recording 18 million tourist arrivals by November, surpassing the previous full-year record of 17.4 million.

The AfDB loan brings the bank’s total financial commitments to Morocco in 2025 to €1.3 billion, reinforcing the kingdom’s position as the institution’s largest client in Africa.

In parallel, Morocco is expanding the fleet of its state-owned airline, Royal Air Maroc, as part of efforts to strengthen Casablanca’s role as a regional aviation hub linking Africa with Europe and the Americas.