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| Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region |
| Native name | Région de Rabat-Salé-Kénitra |
| Settlement type | Region |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Kingdom of Morocco |
| Seat | Rabat |
| Area total km2 | 18175 |
| Population total | 4529792 |
| Population as of | 2014 census |
Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region is one of twelve administrative regions of the Kingdom of Morocco located on the Atlantic coast in northwestern Morocco. The region contains the national capital Rabat, the historic city of Salé, and the port city of Kenitra, forming a conurbation that links coastal plains, the Gharb Plain, and the western approaches to the Rif and Middle Atlas. It is an administrative, political, and cultural hub tied to national institutions such as the Monarchy of Morocco, the Parliament of Morocco, and various ministries headquartered in Rabat.
The region borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west and adjoins the regions of Casablanca-Settat, Fès-Meknès, and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, with coastal features including the Bou Regreg estuary and the Plage de Rabat. Inland landscapes include the Gharb Plain, the estuarine marshes near Kénitra and the agricultural zones of Sidi Kacem and Sidi Slimane. Climate zones range from Mediterranean influences in Rabat and Salé to semi-arid conditions in the eastern sectors near Khemisset and Sidi Slimane. Major rivers include the Bou Regreg and tributaries feeding the Sebou River basin, linking to wetlands and ecosystems designated for conservation such as coastal dunes and reedbeds frequented by species observed in regional studies associated with the Royal Botanical Garden of Rabat and fieldwork by researchers from Mohammed V University.
The territory has prehistoric and classical legacies evidenced by Rock art sites and Roman-period remains near Chellah, a necropolis and walled settlement that later became an important medieval site under the Almoravid dynasty and the Almohad Caliphate. The medieval era saw urban development in Rabat and Salé as part of trans-Mediterranean networks linked to Al-Andalus and trade routes to Timbuktu. In the early modern period, Salé gained notoriety through corsair activity associated with the Republic of Salé while Rabat served as a fortress for the Alaouite dynasty. The French Protectorate in Morocco established colonial infrastructure including the Rabat-Salé airport precursors and administrative quarters, shaping modern urban plans by architects influenced by Henri Prost. Post-independence developments centralized national institutions in Rabat, and regional reforms in the 2010s under the Moroccan regionalization process created the current administrative configuration.
The region is subdivided into prefectures and provinces established by national legislation, including the Rabat Prefecture, Salé Prefecture, Skhirate-Témara Prefecture, Kénitra Province, Sidi Kacem Province, Sidi Slimane Province, and Khemisset Province. The regional capital is Rabat, seat of the Wilaya and the regional council formed under the Ministry of Interior (Morocco). Municipalities and communes within the prefectures include Souissi, Hay Riad, Aïn Atiq, and Moulay Yacoub-style localities governed through elected councils in line with statutes introduced during the Decentralization in Morocco reforms.
According to the 2014 national census conducted by the High Commission for Planning (Morocco), the region had a population exceeding four million, concentrated in the urban agglomeration of Rabat, Salé, and Kénitra. The populace comprises Arabic-speaking Moroccans and Amazigh communities with linguistic varieties such as Moroccan Arabic and Tamazight dialects, and includes internal migrants from regions such as Fès-Meknès and Marrakesh-Safi. Religious affiliation is predominantly Islam in Morocco with cultural ties to Sufi brotherhoods historically active in the region. Demographic trends reflect urbanization, a youthful age structure measured by national studies from institutions including Université Ibn Tofaïl and policy analyses by the World Bank on Moroccan urban growth.
The regional economy integrates public administration centered in Rabat, agricultural production across the Gharb Plain and cereal belts near Sidi Slimane, industrial zones in Kénitra linked to automotive and manufacturing investments such as facilities by multinational firms involved in the Automotive industry in Morocco, and port activities in Kénitra and nearby harbors serving export crops and fisheries regulated by the Office National des Pêches (ONP). The service sector includes banking institutions like Attijariwafa Bank and cultural tourism enterprises connected to sites such as Mausoleum of Mohammed V and Kasbah of the Udayas. Regional economic planning intersects with national strategies exemplified by the Plan Maroc Vert and foreign direct investment promoted through agreements with partners like the European Union and bilateral ties with France, Spain, and China.
Transport networks feature the national highway A1 linking Rabat and Casablanca, the A2 corridor toward Fès, and railway lines operated by ONCF connecting Kenitra and Rabat to the national rail grid including high-capacity intercity services. The region hosts Rabat–Salé Airport for domestic and international flights and benefits from port infrastructure at Kenitra Atlantic Port and adjacent fishing harbors supervised by maritime authorities. Urban mobility systems include bus networks operated by municipal agencies, planned tramway projects inspired by systems in Casablanca and Rabat–Salé modernization initiatives, and logistics hubs serving industrial parks promoted under national investment agencies like the Agence Nationale pour la Promotion de l'Emploi et des Compétences.
Cultural life revolves around monuments such as the Kasbah of the Udayas, archaeological sites like Chellah, museums including the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, festivals hosted by institutions such as the Ministry of Culture (Morocco), and events on the cultural calendar with performers from the National Orchestra of Morocco and artists associated with Institut Royal de la Culture Amazighe. Tourism draws visitors to historic medinas in Rabat and Salé, coastal resorts along the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and eco-tourism in wetlands near Sidi Bouknadel and birdwatching sites catalogued by conservation groups and university researchers. Culinary traditions feature dishes from regional markets influenced by Andalusian cuisine and Moroccan gastronomy showcased at cultural centers and heritage routes promoted by the Moroccan National Tourist Office.
Category:Regions of Morocco