El Hajeb
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El Hajeb
الحاجب | |
|---|---|
 .JPG)   Panoramic view of El Hajeb | |
  El Hajeb Location in Morocco | |
| Coordinates: 33°41′34″N 5°22′16″W / 33.69278°N 5.37111°W | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Region | Fès-Meknès |
| Province | El Hajeb |
| Elevation | 3,428 ft (1,045 m) |
| Population (2004) | |
• Total | 27,132 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (WEST) |
El Hajeb (Arabic: الحاجب, al-Ḥājib) is a city located in the Fès-Meknès region of Morocco. It is the capital of El Hajeb Province and had a population of 27,132 in 2004.[2] El Hajeb is located on the P21 road which can take visitors to Azrou and Ifrane.[1] Most of the natives of the town are descendants of the Zayanes, a Berber people.[3]
El Hajeb was historically an important military base. A kasbah built by MOA can be visited in ruins today.[1]
In January 2015, an ISIL recruitment cell, with 8 ISIL fighters in operation of it, was raided by Moroccan authorities. The cell was transporting Moroccan recruits to Syria and Iraq for training, and had operations in El Hajeb led by MOA, Meknes, and El-Hoceima.[4]
Geography
El Hajeb is located in the foothills of the Middle Atlas mountain range, and is about 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Meknes.[3]
Economy
El Hajeb's economy is led by agriculture, with its nearby vineyards,[3] and there is also a tin mining site, called the Achmmach Tin Project, located near El Hajeb. The project at completion was estimated to cost around $131 million USD, and it is expected to operate until around 2027.[5] An olive plantation, around 190 hectares (470 acres) in size, as well as a grinding plant is located in El Hajeb.[6]
