Morocco bets on artificial intelligence to drive growth and expand regional influence

Morocco is turning artificial intelligence into a pillar of economic reform and diplomatic influence, unveiling a national strategy aimed at accelerating growth and strengthening its position across Africa and the Arab world.

On 12 January 2026, authorities introduced the “AI Made in Morocco 2030” initiative in Rabat, presenting it as a structured roadmap for building a national AI ecosystem. The program is closely aligned with the broader “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy, which targets an additional 100 billion dirhams in GDP and the creation of 240,000 digital-sector jobs by the end of the decade.

Linking technology to sovereignty

The AI roadmap combines infrastructure investment, skills development and regulatory reform. Officials describe the strategy as a step toward technological sovereignty, designed to build public trust in AI applications while stimulating innovation across key sectors.

A network of Al-Jazari Institutes is expected to serve as regional hubs, connecting academic research with private-sector needs in health, education, agriculture, industry and smart cities.

Under Digital Morocco 2030, the government plans to train 100,000 young people annually in digital disciplines, a significant expansion compared with recent years. The objective is to increase the digital sector’s contribution to national output while addressing persistent unemployment challenges.

Moroccan officials frequently cite estimates from the African Development Bank suggesting that artificial intelligence could add up to $1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035, underscoring the scale of opportunity the country seeks to capture.

Structural reform remains essential

Economists caution that technology alone cannot deliver sustainable growth. In a recent assessment of North African economies, World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill argued that regional resilience in 2025 was driven largely by temporary policy measures and favorable external conditions. Without fiscal discipline and reforms to stimulate private investment and diversification, recovery could remain fragile and insufficient to generate lasting employment gains.

In this context, Morocco’s AI strategy appears to form part of a broader attempt to move beyond low-productivity growth patterns. Authorities are presenting digital transformation not as a standalone upgrade, but as a lever for economic restructuring.

AI as a diplomatic instrument

Beyond domestic reform, artificial intelligence is being positioned as a tool of foreign policy.

Speaking at a national AI event in Rabat, Ambassador Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the United Nations, described the initiative as a forward-looking model capable of extending Morocco’s influence across the continent. He framed AI Made in Morocco as an instrument of South-South cooperation, offering locally adapted technological solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Morocco has highlighted partnerships with international technology firms, including cooperation with Mistral AI on Arabic language processing, research and development agreements, and expanded ties with Oracle and Huawei. Discussions with OpenAI and Nvidia’s decision to prioritize Morocco within its African strategy were also presented as signs of growing international engagement.

The country’s re-election to the executive committee of the Digital Cooperation Organization for 2026 further reinforces its ambition to help shape global digital governance. Artificial intelligence now joins renewable energy, migration management and religious diplomacy as components of Morocco’s broader soft power toolkit.

Risk of widening regional disparities

Domestically, concerns are emerging about uneven development. Analysts warn that concentrating investment in major cities such as Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier could deepen territorial inequalities.

The Maroc IA 2030 roadmap includes commitments to distribute AI infrastructure and innovation projects more evenly across the country. Whether this pledge materializes will depend on the number of start-ups supported outside major economic hubs and on the expansion of AI-enabled public services in less developed regions.

Governance and data protection

Regulation has become central to Morocco’s AI approach. The Economic, Social and Environmental Council has called for a comprehensive national framework grounded in ethical standards and safeguards for fundamental rights.

The government has signed an agreement with the National Commission for the Control of the Protection of Personal Data to develop responsible AI guidelines, including standards for systems based on large language models. These measures aim to address data protection, algorithmic transparency and the broader societal implications of automation.

Despite a series of announcements, implementation remains at an early stage. Sector reports point to delays in opening public data, funding constraints for AI start-ups and shortages of highly qualified machine learning and data engineering specialists. Pilot projects in health, education and agriculture are underway, but independent assessments of their impact are not yet available.

Balancing innovation, employment and social cohesion

Actors in Morocco’s technology ecosystem describe the coming years as decisive for the success of the country’s digital transition. Recent analyses of the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy highlight plans to create thousands of technology start-ups in artificial intelligence, big data and cybersecurity, supported by updated legal frameworks and improved access to public procurement.

At the same time, international institutions caution against unintended consequences. The World Bank has warned in its assessments of North African labour markets that automation and advanced technologies could place additional pressure on low-skilled occupations and widen the gap between firms able to invest in new tools and those that lack the resources. It has called for active labour market policies and large-scale reskilling programmes to prevent social disruption and ensure that productivity gains translate into inclusive growth.

Morocco’s leadership presents AI Made in Morocco and Maroc IA 2030 as the digital foundation of a new development model aimed not only at technological modernisation but also at restructuring the economy, strengthening high-value services and integrating domestic companies into global value chains.

As the country advances its artificial intelligence agenda, the credibility of this strategy will ultimately be judged on its ability to convert announced targets into measurable economic gains, sustainable employment and reduced regional disparities.