Orascom unveils first phase of Morocco project

This is a culmination of Orascom Development's past efforts to ensure swell positioning as well as long term viability and sustainability for the project, which has been started in 2007 with a development agreement between the Government of Morocco and Orascom Development.

The integrated and self-sufficient tourist destination will be developed by Oued Chbika Development, a subsidiary of Orascom Development, and in collaboration with Caisse de Dépôt des Gestion (one of the largest financial institutions in Morocco with extensive experience in tourism and real estate). Orascom Development will retain a majority stake of 65%.

The new Orascom town will be located in the southern part of Morocco, at Chbika on the Atlantic Ocean in the province of Guelmim (300 km from Agadir), covering a total area of 15 million m2. The project's philosophy is based on integration into the existing beautiful countryside between the Sahara dessert, the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. By embedding the town into the cliffs, left and right of the banks of a nearby river, the town will provide perfect and harmonic shelter for its' inhabitants and visitors.

The planned resort will offer several hotels, residential units, a golf course, a town center along all related amenities and services. The Chbika project will be developed in two stages, with the first phase expected to be finished in 2015 and the second phase expected to commence thereafter. The first phase covers a total area of 5 million m2, comprising of: 8 hotels offering a total capacity of 2,500 rooms 1,851 real estate units (apartments and villas) All amenities and supporting infrastructure including a marina with 100 berths capacity, a golf course, congress centre, shops, restaurants, cinema, arts and crafts, sports centre, spa, staff housing, and medical installations.