Exchanging euros for cash upon arrival in Morocco is not always the most advantageous choice. Recent payments made in dirhams with a foreign card show a difference that can exceed 170 dirhams per 1,000 euros compared to the buying rate displayed by a Moroccan bank.
The Office of Exchange is investigating businessmen suspected of settling debts contracted in Morocco with apartments and villas held in France and Spain .
Bank Of Africa is deploying temporary banking spaces at several tourist sites this summer. Officially, it’s about making life easier for Moroccans living abroad. But this clientele, already heavily solicited, remains a major commercial target.
Morocco is accelerating electronic payments, with a fee reduction planned from October 1, 2026. But small merchants are demanding free terminals , training, and a gradual transition.
Moroccan banks generated 19.2 billion dirhams in profits in 2025 , a 22.2% increase year-on-year. This new growth is driven by banking activity, lower risk costs, and accelerated credit expansion to the economy.
Moroccans living abroad (diaspora) who use their card during their holidays in Morocco may see their budget increase due to exchange fees and withdrawal charges. Paying in euros, repeated small withdrawals or automatic conversion: several seemingly harmless operations can ultimately prove costly.
Two new tax rules have been applied in Morocco since July 1st. Real estate purchases exceeding 300,000 dirhams paid without traceable means are subject to an additional 2% fee, while a 5% withholding targets certain professional rents.
Starting October 1, 2026, fees related to electronic card payments will decrease in Morocco. Bank Al-Maghrib has decided to cap interchange commissions , with particular advantages for digital public services and neighborhood shops.
The Office of Exchange is investigating suspicious financial transfers involving Moroccan companies and offshore entities . Information transmitted by Spanish and French authorities reportedly enabled the opening of investigations to identify the real beneficiaries of these operations.
Moroccan residents abroad can leave Morocco with foreign currency, but not under any conditions. The Office of Exchange strictly regulates the amounts that can be repurchased and exported, as well as the supporting documents to present in case of inspection.
Moroccans residing in Belgium must declare their bank accounts opened in Morocco . This obligation applies to accounts held abroad, even when they are only used to manage a house, help family, or keep savings in dirhams.
Moroccans residing abroad can finance a significant portion of a real estate purchase in Morocco through bank credit in dirhams. However, the Office of Exchange regulates this possibility, which remains linked to a currency contribution and specific conditions.