Overview
National security is one of Morocco’s top priorities. Morocco is uniquely situated at the intersection of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, exposing it to transnational threats, including illegal immigration and the trafficking of humans and narcotics, pushing the country to seek tight control over its borders. With its airports, seaports, and border crossings, Morocco remains committed to implementing strong security and customs, through both agreements with the United States and other countries. Under its customs and port security agreements with the United States and other countries, Morocco will be implementing major upgrades and maintains strict security standards at its airports, seaports, and border crossings.
Leading Sub-Sectors
- Security and safety equipment and related solutions for seaports, airports, border crossings, buildings, and security agencies.
- Integrated monitoring and surveillance solutions.
- Bomb detection and anti-terrorism technologies.
- Luggage screening devices.
- Biometrics.
- Access control and alarm systems.
- Terminal operating systems.
- X-ray and scanning equipment.
- Fire prevention and control equipment, alarm equipment for building safety, emergency evacuation systems.
- Radio communication systems.
- Inspection equipment for containers, and seaport cargo; and
- Cybersecurity and IT security solutions
Military
The Moroccan military is large and is committed to modernization efforts. It consists of 235,000 active personnel and an additional 250,000 reserves, divided between the army, which accounts for 88% of the armed forces, the navy, and the air force.
Morocco allocated a budget of $17 billion for defense in 2023. The Moroccan military’s modernization can be seen through its 2030 Modernization plan. This plan, established in 2017 and operationalized in 2020, outlines the country’s stated goal of interoperability with the United States and NATO, by modernizing the equipment of its army, air force, and navy. Primary sources of cooperation and investment for the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR) are the United States, France, Spain and increasingly Israel. Morocco is the largest purchaser of American defense systems in Africa.
Morocco’s 2030 modernization plan includes a focus on the establishment of a local defense industry. To this end, Morocco established a legal framework to support the emergence of an industrial defense sector in Morocco, together with the establishment of a global incentive framework in terms of training, financial support, and access to land. Morocco has devoted $20 billion to its strategic objectives of modernization and interoperability and has outranked Saudi Arabia with deals worth up to $10.3 billion. U.S. military sales to Morocco more than doubled in 2020, growing from $4.01 billion (MAD 36 billion) to its current completed sales value of $8.5 billion (MAD 76 billion). Morocco was the 29th largest importer of major arms in 2022, according to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report shows that Morocco imports 76% of its arms from the US, followed by France (15%), and China (6.8%)
Morocco aims to have a fully independent army, air force, and navy. The increased defense budget will also serve to strengthen the Royal Navy’s patrol fleet with two new frigates. Morocco plans to invest in a top-of-the-line coastal surveillance system, as securing the coasts has become a key priority of the kingdom. Morocco also plans to invest heavily in its Joint Command and Control capabilities and Cyber Defense.
2. Police
The General Directorate for National Security (DGSN) is Morocco’s national police force and reports to the Ministry of Interior, which manages a budget of $4.11 billion. The DGSN is comprised of four sections: Urban Corps, Judiciary Police, Mobile Intervention Companies, and Internal Security Service. DGSN is committed to “a new security vision,” with its recent construction of new DGSN barracks (Safi, Settat ,and Tétouan), regional headquarters of the Directorate General for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) in Oujda, and a new national DGSN headquarters in Rabat. The DGSN is also involved in “the renovation of transmission equipment and computer equipment.”
3. Civilian
Public Sector: The National Airports Authority (ONDA) is responsible for all aspects of airport security and purchasing related to its projects. ONDA has a plan to upgrade its airports with facial recognition systems starting with Rabat - Salé airport. 
For more information, please refer to the Aerospace Sector section.
Moroccan seaports handle more than 95 percent of Morocco’s foreign trade; Casablanca and Tanger Med are the largest. The National Ports Agency (ANP) supervises thet33 ports, all but one of which operated by the semi-public Company for Ports Development and Operation (SODEP, also called Marsa Maroc). Tanger Med is under the authority of the Tanger Med Port Authority (TMPA). ANP continues to upgrade its equipment with access control systems and surveillance systems. All tenders are published on their website: https://www.anp.org.ma/En/Publications/Pages/Calltenders.aspx
4. Private
The market for private security equipment and services continues to grow and offers great opportunities for U.S. companies. The security services market (manned, electronic, cash in transit, etc.) is dominated by a small number of international firms. However, recently the number of local Moroccan private security firms has proliferated, competing mostly in manned security services. Opportunities for sales of security and safety products also exist with large Moroccan firms and major banks, telecoms, and other industrial companies.
Resources
Moroccan government safety and security institutions are not accessible via internet.