The United Arab Emirates has announced plans to develop one of the world's largest tourism villages in La Güera, a coastal area in Morocco's Sahara region. This project aims to boost tourism ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The initiative reflects growing economic ties between the two nations.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) intends to transform La Güera, a sparsely populated coastal town often described as a ghost town near Morocco's southern border along the Atlantic Ocean, into a major travel and leisure hub. This development is part of broader efforts to tap into the Sahara region's untapped potential for luxury desert tourism, combining remote natural beauty with modern amenities.
The proposed tourism village will feature high-end chalets, villas, upscale hotels, guesthouses, and luxury desert tents. Additional facilities include swimming pools, water parks, fitness centers, spas, landscaped green spaces, playgrounds, restaurants, cafés, retail outlets, and quick-service kiosks. Infrastructure elements such as reception and security services, parking for cars and buses, electricity, sewage systems, internet connectivity, a marina, conference halls, and event spaces will support the complex, catering to leisure, family, and business visitors.
This project builds on strengthening UAE-Morocco relations. By mid-2025, UAE investments in Morocco reached about $188 million, making it the second-largest foreign investor after France. In 2020, the UAE opened a consulate in Laayoune and plans an embassy in Dakhla. A consortium of Emirati and Moroccan investors has signed memoranda of understanding for water and energy infrastructure projects valued at approximately $14 billion.
The development aligns with Morocco's preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, including enhancements to transportation, accommodations, and tourism services. It seeks to diversify offerings beyond popular sites like Marrakesh, Casablanca, and Fez, while creating thousands of jobs and stimulating local economies in construction, hospitality, and related sectors. The initiative positions the Sahara as an emerging destination for sustainable tourism growth.