Even before its opening, Nador West Med is prompting new investments on the Spanish shore. The port of Motril has just authorized the construction of a customs warehouse intended in particular for Moroccan perishable products shipped to Europe.
The Spanish Navy has deployed the Centinela in the Alboran Sea to monitor communication cables and underwater energy pipelines . The vessel patrols in a strategic zone between Spain and Morocco.
Operation Marhaba 2026 confirms a sharp decline in crossings linking Motril to Moroccan ports. While certain routes to Tangier and Nador are holding steady or advancing, connections departing from the Andalusian port are recording spectacular drops since the start of summer.
Ferry cancellations between Motril and Al Hoceima are sparking outrage among many MREs from the Rif region. During peak Operation Marhaba, several travelers are forced to change ports, facing longer routes and additional expenses.
Repeated cancellations on the Motril-Al Hoceima maritime line are angering Moroccans from the Rif living abroad. The ASSORIF association denounces a situation that is disrupting vacation departures for many families, forced to revise their plans in the middle of summer season.
Every summer, many MREs drive across Spain to reach Morocco. Most head to Algeciras, Almería or Motril, ports well known to travelers. But another option deserves consideration: Tarifa.
The 2026 edition of the Marhaba operation starts this Wednesday, June 10 to oversee the summer return of Moroccans residing abroad. Until September 15, a vast assistance network will be deployed between Europe and Morocco .
After the acquisition of Trasmediterranea, Baleària has decided to suspend the line connecting the port of Motril to Tanger Med in Morocco, a line that has transported more than 1.2 million tons of goods since its launch in December 2022.
The Civil Guard arrested a 31-year-old man in El Ejido (Almería) for speeding with a Moroccan-registered car on a highway near Motril.
Morocco is still searching for Marouan El Mokadem, a Moroccan who has been missing since May 24, 2024, after boarding a ferry bound for the port of Motril.
After donating 80,000 kilos of watermelons last year due to Moroccan competition, Spanish farmer Manuel Puertas has decided this year to change crops and produce tomatoes and cucumbers.
Some 20,573 Moroccans from Europe and 5,578 vehicles transited through the port of Motril since the start of Operation Marhaba on June 13, representing a decrease of 23% and 18% respectively compared to the same period last year.