Operation Marhaba 2025 begins
Operation Marhaba (or Crossing the Strait) begins, welcoming Moroccans living abroad who are returning to their homeland for the summer holidays until 15 September.
The operation is being carried out on the instructions of King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
In connection with the start of Operation Marhaba, the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity has announced that a reception and assistance system has been set up in Morocco, Spain, France and Italy.
This system will be divided into six service centres in the European countries mentioned above and another 20 distributed along the northern coast of Morocco. In addition, in this 25th edition, with the recent addition of the two airports of Laayoune and Dakhla, the number of reception points for Operation Marhaba has risen to 26.
The Port of Algeciras, due to its high traffic flow and proximity to North Africa, is one of the main points of the operation abroad, along with the port of Tangier.
With 520 weekly trips planned, more than 1,200 humanitarian service personnel have been deployed, supervised by the Mohammed V Foundation through the Central Coordination Office located in Rabat, which handles any incidents that passengers may encounter.
These personnel include social workers, doctors, paramedics and volunteers who will do their utmost to assist and support passengers during their arrival process.
Since 2001, the Foundation has assisted all Moroccan travellers during their return home in the summer period. The reasons behind this are the difficulties they faced, such as traffic accidents and problems with boats, among others.
According to the Foundation, the aim has always been to ‘improve reception conditions, facilitate the transit of members of the expatriate community and assist people in vulnerable situations’.
Moroccan banks, airport, port and railway offices and motorways, together with entities such as Royal Air Maroc, the Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency, shipping companies, the Merchant Navy, the Customs and Indirect Tax Administration, the Royal Gendarmerie and the Directorate General of National Security are all collaborating in the reception.
Operation Marhaba helplines
In addition to the assistance provided in person by the entire team deployed, passengers also have access to the following helplines:
- 080 000 23 23 (toll-free number in Morocco)
- 080 968 70 93 (toll-free number in Morocco)
- 00 212 537 20 5566 (international)
- 00 212 537 20 6666 (international)
- 00 39 35 1212 94 89 (Genoa, Italy)
- 00 33 780 716 093 (Marseille, France)
- 00 33 617 299 161 (Sète, France)
- 00 34 631 669 433 (Motril, Spain)
- 00 34 632 508 290 (Almería, Spain)
- 00 34 632 540 700 (Algeciras, Spain)
These numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also download the Marhaba mobile app or get online assistance through the website dedicated to this operation.
Promotion of Operation Marhaba
The Foundation has released two promotional videos for Operation Marhaba 2025 on its YouTube channel, one of which features the Moroccan artistic trio Fnaire.
While the music video with Fnaire highlights the reunion of Moroccans living abroad with their families and the means of transport, the other video focuses on the special assistance and activities provided at the various service centres.
