Operation Marhaba 2026 records more than 2.16 million passengers through Andalusian ports
Operation Marhaba 2026 continues to register strong passenger traffic between Europe and Morocco, with more than 2.16 million travelers crossing the Strait of Gibraltar through Andalusian ports during the first two months of the seasonal operation.
According to available figures, the five Andalusian ports participating in the operation handled approximately 2,169,080 passengers between the start of the outbound phase on June 15 and August 15, representing an increase of 2.7% compared with the same period in 2025.
Vehicle traffic followed a slightly different trend. A total of 545,359 vehicles crossed in both directions, including 408,673 traveling toward Morocco and 136,686 on return journeys to Europe. This represents a year-on-year decline of 1.7%.
The Port of Algeciras remained the busiest gateway for travelers heading to Morocco. During the period, it recorded 3,258 ferry crossings, transporting around 903,658 passengers and 251,473 vehicles. Despite its leading position, passenger traffic through the port fell by 7.6%, while vehicle traffic declined by 5.7% compared with the previous year.
The return phase of Operation Marhaba began on August 16, marking the start of the period when large numbers of Moroccan residents abroad are expected to return to Europe after their summer holidays. At Algeciras, approximately 295,639 passengers and 82,520 vehicles had already traveled toward Europe.
Traffic is expected to intensify considerably in the coming weeks as the return movement reaches its seasonal peak. The return phase is scheduled to continue until September 15, when the majority of holidaymakers are expected to have completed their journeys back to Europe.
Despite differences between individual ports, current estimates suggest that total passenger traffic during Operation Marhaba 2026 could increase by around 3% compared with the previous edition.
For comparison, Operation Marhaba 2025 recorded 3,488,885 passengers and 857,784 vehicles crossing the Strait of Gibraltar through 10,536 ferry journeys.
The figures underline the continued importance of maritime connections between Morocco and Europe during the summer season. As the return phase gathers pace, Andalusian ports and ferry operators are preparing for one of the busiest periods of the year, with thousands of Moroccan families and European travelers expected to cross the Strait of Gibraltar in the weeks ahead.
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