Living in Casablanca

1. The city in plain words

Casablanca sits on the Atlantic coast, on the Chaouia plain, in central-western Morocco. It is the country's largest city and its economic and business centre. Rabat is the political capital, a different city: Casablanca is the economic capital, not the capital of the country.

The Port of Casablanca is one of the largest artificial ports in Africa, and the city is also home to the Casablanca Stock Exchange and many companies. The climate is Atlantic, milder than in inland cities. The city is known for its Art Deco city centre and for the Hassan II Mosque, on the edge of the ocean.

2. Neighbourhoods

• **Centre: Maarif, Gauthier, Racine, Bourgogne, Palmier.** Maarif is central and commercial, around Boulevard Al Massira Al Khadra and the Maarif market, with the Twin Center as a landmark. Gauthier and Racine are central and residential; together with Anfa, they form the property professionals' "golden triangle". Bourgogne and Palmier are mid-range, popular with young professionals.
• **West: Anfa, Anfa Supérieur, Ain Diab, and the Corniche.** Anfa and Anfa Supérieur are quiet and residential, with villas and several embassies. Ain Diab and the Corniche form the seafront, with beaches, a promenade, and restaurants.
• **South-west: Hay Hassani and Sidi Maarouf.** Hay Hassani is a large family-oriented area, including C.I.L, Californie, Oasis, and Beauséjour. Sidi Maarouf is a business area, with office parks and newer residential complexes.
• **Older quarters: the Old Medina and the Habous.** The Old Medina is compact and lived-in near the port, partly enclosed by ramparts. The Habous Quarter (New Medina) is a planned neighbourhood from the 1930s, with arcades and organised souks.

3. Housing types

Housing in Casablanca consists mostly of apartments and villas. Apartments dominate in the city centre and in central neighbourhoods such as Maarif, Gauthier, and Racine, in older buildings, including Art Deco blocks, or in modern residential complexes with shared services. Villas are found mainly in the west and south-west, in Anfa, Anfa Supérieur, Ain Diab, and C.I.L, often with a garden.

A common Moroccan type is the R+2 house: a commercial ground floor with two floors of housing above. Modern residential complexes group apartments in one development, often with a caretaker, and are common in newer areas such as Sidi Maarouf. There are no traditional riads of the kind found in Marrakech or Fes.

4. Renting vs buying, in general terms

**Renting.** Long-term residential renting in Morocco falls under Law No. 67-12. Usual leases last one year and renew. In practice, a security deposit is usually asked for, in addition to the first month paid at signing. A written contract, in Arabic or French, is strongly advised, stating the parties, the property, the duration, the rent, the deposit, and the conditions for ending the tenancy. The law also limits rent revisions.

**Buying.** Buying goes through a notary (notaire). The notary checks the land title (titre foncier) at the land registry (Conservation Foncière, ANCFCC): this confirms who owns the property and whether there are charges or disputes. A compromis de vente is signed first, then the final deed before the notary. Foreign buyers may buy titled urban property; agricultural land is excluded. Before signing, check the title, the condition of the property, and, for an apartment, the co-ownership charges.

**Choosing.** Renting lets you test a neighbourhood before committing. In both cases, this site does not verify listings, sellers, or advertised prices: every listing must be checked by the buyer or tenant themselves.

5. Food and daily life

Daily life revolves around markets, small shops, and cafés. Marché Central, in the city centre, has food stalls, fish, and small restaurants where fish chosen on the stall can be grilled on the spot. Maarif Market has fruit, vegetables, spices, olives, meat, fish, and flowers. The Habous Quarter has the olive market and craft souks. Derb Ghallef is a large second-hand market, one of the biggest in the country.

Supermarkets and large shopping centres, including in the Ain Diab area, complete the markets. Tagines, couscous, soups, and grilled meats are found in small restaurants as well as in more formal ones. Cafés set the rhythm of the day: people meet there in the morning, after work, and in the evening. No meal, grocery, or rent price is stated here.

6. Practical notes for a newcomer

• **Language and money.** Arabic and Tamazight are the official languages; in Casablanca, French serves in business and administration, and Darija on the street and in the markets. The currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD); cards are accepted in hotels and shopping centres, but keep cash for small shops, souks, and cafés.
• **Paperwork.** Check before departure whether your nationality needs a visa; a valid passport is required in all cases. For a long stay, ask about the residence card.
• **Visit and check.** Visit the property and the street at different times of day: a street that is quiet in the morning can be noisy in the evening. For a rental, ask for a written contract and a receipt for every payment. For a purchase, have the land title checked by an independent notary before any large payment.
• **Ordinary caution.** Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and stay alert at night in quiet streets. The Old Medina remains a lived-in neighbourhood, not a backdrop.