Rabat is a dream location for lovers of ancient history, as well as a great place to do business in the 21st century.
Situ’s apartments in Rabat are a fantastic choice for the business traveller who wants their own private space. Each of our corporate properties offers cooking, dining, and washing facilities, which you wouldn’t expect in a hotel room, and all at a very competitive rate.
If you want to dine out, rather than cook for yourself, of course, you can go to any of the excellent restaurants in the city. However, that might not be something you want to do every night, so having your own self-catering accommodation in Rabat definitely has its benefits.
Many of our serviced apartments in Rabat also have housekeeping services and on-site laundry services.
Serviced apartments can also be much more convenient than hotel rooms as places to do business. Guests have access to free wi-fi and some have professional meeting rooms or at least places to enjoy a coffee. 'Choice' really is the keyword here – you choose a fully equipped, serviced apartment that offers what you want.
Rabat is in the north-west of Morocco, which is itself located at the north-west corner of Africa. This Atlantic port city is the capital of Morocco, and it’s also the country’s second most populous city, at least when you consider the numbers resident in the larger city region. Around 580,000 people live in Rabat itself, but as many as 1.9 million reside in the larger Rabat metropolitan area.
Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and is located 53 miles south-west of Rabat. Fes, the third largest, is 105 miles away to the east. Other well-known cities in Morocco include Tangier (135 miles north-east of Rabat), and Marrakesh (179 miles to the south-west).
The two official languages here are Arabic and Amazigh, with the latter also known as Berber or Tamazight. The locals are most likely to speak Moroccan Arabic (Darija), with many people also able to speak French. You’re unlikely to find too many fluent speakers of English here, although you’re more likely to find one in the business world than in the general population.
The currency of Morocco is the dirham, with 100 santimat, or 100 centimes, comprising one dirham. This is a ‘closed currency’, meaning that you won’t be able to convert your money into dirhams until you arrive in the country. Some outlets in Rabat will accept euros and US dollars.
Rabat has direct flights to a number of European cities. Flying from elsewhere in the world, you might have to change planes in Europe to get here. Once you’ve arrived, Morocco has one of the best rail networks in Africa.
Successive governments in Morocco have been committed to establishing the country as a free market economy – the state began reducing its role in the national economy as far back as the 1990s.
Recent free trade arrangements with the United States and the European Union have also made the country a much more attractive place in which to do business.
Some of the principal industries in Rabat include textiles, food processing, and construction. There is also a growing services sector here, and some of the largest employers with a presence in the city include CapGemini, Dell, IBM, Amazon, Deloitte, PwC, EY, and Accenture. The largest local employer is the Government, however.
This is a young city, with a much higher proportion of people of working age than Morocco as a whole, which only enhances its economic potential. Rabat is home to Mohammed V University, regarded as Morocco’s most prestigious university, and which is especially noted for its medical and law schools. Rabat Business School is regarded as one of the best in North Africa.
The main Chamber of Commerce in the city is known by the French name of ‘Chambre de Commerce, d'Industrie et de Services de Rabat,’ indicative of the fact that France is one of the country’s principal trading partners. This organisation seeks to promote the interests of local companies.
Rabat is blessed with some fine ancient historical attractions. Where the Bou Regreg River meets the Atlantic, you’ll find the Kasbah of the Udayas, a 12th century citadel of narrow alleyways and attractive white and blue houses. One of the highlights of this area is the intricate moulding on the Bab Oudaia entrance gate. You’ll also find the Andalusian Gardens here, with its collection of palms, orange trees, and roses.
Unlike many similar sites in the Islamic world, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V is open to people of all religions. It’s well worth a visit to see the elaborate entrance archways, marble floor and stained-glass dome, Opposite the Mausoleum is the Hassan Tower, an imposing 44-metre-high minaret that dates from the 12th century.
One of the most exciting times to visit Rabat might be June, when the nine-day Mawazine music festival promises live music on seven stages across the city. In previous years, local artists have shared the bill with well-known international superstars.
Many of Rabat’s best restaurants serve Mediterranean cuisine, such as seafood. There are also great authentic Moroccan dining experiences. You’re also sure to be able to pick up some great Moroccan street food from the stalls in the Medina (Old Town). Of course, if you want to try cooking some local dishes yourself, the fully-equipped kitchen in your self-catering apartment in Rabat will allow you to do so.
Rabat-Salé Airport is seven miles north-east of the city centre. It has direct flights from London, Paris, Brussels, Marseille, Madrid, Abu Dhabi and Rome, as well as from internal destinations such as Agadir and Oujda. If you’re flying from other areas of the world, such as North America, your journey might involve a change in Paris, for example.
Morocco is justifiably proud of its new Al Boraq inter-city high-speed network. Trains operate hourly at the busiest times, linking Rabat to Fes, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakesh.
Bus services in Rabat include the hourly shuttle between the city and the airport. However, the tram network might be the easiest way of travelling between different parts of the city centre, as there isn’t an extensive bus network.
A tramway system links Rabat with the downtown area of the adjoining city of Sale, also serving suburbs such as Ocean, Yacoub Al Mansour and Bettana. Trams run every 10-15 minutes on Line One and every 30 minutes on Line Two, although services cease in the early evening.