Oriental (Morocco)
Region of Morocco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Oriental region[a] is one of the twelve regions of Morocco, located in the north-eastern part of the country. With an area of 90,127 km2 and a population of 2,269,378 (2024 census),[5] it is the easternmost region of Morocco.
Oriental Region
| |
|---|---|
Jebel Tamejout - Grotte du Chameau (Zegzel) | |
 Seal | |
 Location in Morocco | |
| Coordinates: 34°41′N 1°54′W | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Capital | Oujda |
| Government | |
| • Wali | Mhamed Atfaoui |
| • President | Abdenbi Baiyoui (PAM) |
| Area | |
• Total | 90,127 km2 (34,798 sq mi) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 2,269,378 |
| • Density | 25.180/km2 (65.215/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| ISO 3166 code | MA-02 |
| Website | conseilregionoriental.ma |
The capital and the largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador. The region includes 7 provinces and one prefecture.
The majority of the population of the Oriental Region speaks Moroccan Arabic (86.2%) as a first or second language. According to the 2024 census, 31.1% of the inhabitants of the Oriental Region speak Tarifit.[6] Small numbers speak Eastern Middle Atlas Tamazight and Figuig Tamazight, principally in the south of Oriental.[7]
Etymology
History
On 19 October 2025, Mhamed Atfaoui was appointed Wali of the Oriental region and Governor of the Oujda Angad prefecture by King Mohammed VI, during a Council of Ministers meeting in Rabat.[9]
Geography
Oriental is situated in the northeastern part of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, lie to its northwest, Taza-Fès-Meknès to its west, Drâa-Tafilalet to the southwest, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region. In 2015, Oriental was expanded to include Guercif Province.
The region is made up into the following prefectures and provinces:[10]
Municipalities by population
| Name | Province/Prefecture | Population (2014)[11] |
|---|---|---|
| Oujda | Oujda-Angad Prefecture | 494,252 |
| Nador | Nador Province | 161,726 |
| Berkane | Berkane Province | 109,237 |
| Taourirt | Taourirt Province | 103,398 |
| Beni Ensar / Aït Nsar | Nador Province | 56,582 |
| Al Aaroui | Nador Province | 47,599 |
| Jerada | Jerada Province | 43,506 |
| El Aioun Sidi Mellouk | Taourirt Province | 41,832 |
| Bouarg | Nador Province | 37,737 |
| Zaio | Nador Province | 35,806 |
| Zeghanghane | Nador Province | 34,025 |
| Sidi Slimane Echcharraa | Berkane Province | 30,202 |
| Bouarfa | Figuig Province | 28,846 |
| Bni Chiker | Nador Province | 26,884 |
| Oulad Settout | Nador Province | 23,218 |
| Selouane | Nador Province | 21,570 |
| Boughriba | Berkane Province | 20,513 |
| Ahfir | Berkane Province | 19,630 |
| Arekmane | Nador Province | 18,490 |
| Mtalssa | Driouch Province | 16,787 |
| Talsint | Figuig Province | 16,166 |
| Bni Tadjite | Figuig Province | 16,149 |
| Zegzel | Berkane Province | 16,137 |
| Tendrara | Figuig Province | 15,390 |
| Midar | Driouch Province | 17,042 |
| Driouch | Driouch Province | 14,741 |
| Ben Taieb | Driouch Province | 14,257 |
| Temsamane | Driouch Province | 13,920 |
| Ain Bni Mathar | Jerada Province | 13,526 |
| Figuig | Figuig Province | 12,516 |
Notable people
Arts & Cinema
- Hafid Bouazza, writer
- Hamid Bouchnak, Moroccan raï singer and songwriter
- Nathalie Delon, actress and director
- Douzi, singer and songwriter
- Les Freres Megri, rock band very popular in the Arab world, composers and producers.
- Philippe Faucon, filmmaker
- Fouad Laroui, writer and economist
- Michel Qissi, actor
- Mimoun El Oujdi, Raï singer
- Younes Megri, actor, singer author of 'Leli Touil' sung by Maria de Rossi & Boney M.
- Abdelkrim Derkaoui, cinematographer, film director and screenwriter
- Bassouar Al Maghnaoui, singer
- Cheikh Mohamed Salah Chaabane, musician, gharnati music
- Simon Basinger, musicologist, essayist, producer and author
- Charlotte Slovack, filmmaker
- Douzi, pop singer
- Serge Guirao, singer
- Bayane Belayachi, singer
- Elwalid Mimoun, artist
- Khalid izri, artist
- Namika, musician
- Mohamed Choukri, writer
Sports
- Hakim Ziyech, international footballer, semi-final World Cup 2022
- Adil Belgaid, Olympic judo fighter (3 times World Champion, 6 times African Champion, 3 times Arab Champion, 3 times Olympian)
- Achraf Ouchen, professional karateka
- Abdelatif Benazzi, rugby player
- Philippe Casado, cyclist
- Selim Amallah, football player
- Abdelkarim Kissi, footballer
- Soufiane Kourdou, professional basketball player
- Moha Rharsalla, footballer
- Mohammed Qissi, actor, kickboxer, (Bloodsport with Jean Claude Vandamme)
- Mohcin Cheaouri, track and field athlete, 2 times African champion
- Yahya Berrabah, Olympic athlete, African champion in long jump
- Daniel Sanchez, footballer
- Gilles Simon, Formula 1
- Ahmed Belkedroussi, football manager
- Khadfi Rharsallah, footballer
- Marianne Agulhon, slalom canoeist
- Mohammed Berrabeh, international footballer
- Hassan Alla, footballer
- Mohammed Ben Brahim, footballer
- Khalid Chalqi, footballer
- Gerard Soler, football midfielder
- Khalid Lebji, football midfielder
- Abou El Kacem Hadji, footballer
- Ryad El Alami, footballer
- Abdelah Kafifi, footballer
- Mohamed Atmani, boxer (Summer Olympics)
- Soufiane Kourdou, basketball player
- Houssam Amaanan, footballer
- Habib Allah Dahmani, footballer
- Abdelkader El Brazi, former international goalkeeper
- Aziz Bouhaddouz, international footballer
- Fouzi Lekjaa, football administrator and businessman
- Hicham El Guerrouj, former Olympic athlete, world record holder for the fastest mile also the current world record holder in the 1500m and 2000m
- Mohammed Hendouf, Moroccan-Belgian kickboxer
Politics & Diplomats
- Ahmed Osman, former prime minister, married King Hassan II's sister, Lalla Nuzha of Morocco
- Zoulikha Nasri, advisor to King Mohammed IV, MD of foundation 'Mohammed V for Solidarity'
- Muhammad Ben Abdessalam Al Muqri, late 19th senior official, advisor and grand vizier to several sultans
- Abdelkader Lecheheb, football player and Ambassador to Russia
- Mohamed Allal Sinaceur, former Minister of Cultural Affairs
- Jamal Benomar, politician
- Ahmed Aboutaleb, politician
- Mohamed Habib Sinaceur, politician
- Ahmed Toufiq Hejira, former Minister of Housing and Urbanism
- Kaddour El Ouartassi, historian
- Najima Rhozali, politician, professor
- Yvette Katan Bensamoun, historian
- Omar Benjelloun, journalist
- Abdelaziz Bouteflika, (1937–2021), 5th President of Algeria
- Abdelnour Abbrous, politician
- Chakib Khelil, politician
- Hassnae Bouazza, journalist, writer, columnist
- Louisette Ighilariz, politician
- Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, politician
- Germain Ayache, historian
Other
- Abdelrazzak Hifti, 2022 World Cup team doctor
- Maurice Levy, French businessman, chairman of Publicis Group