Rabat

Rabat is the capital city of Morocco. It serves as the administrative center for the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. The city sits on the Atlantic Ocean coast. It is located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river. Across the water lies the city of Salé. Many people commute from Salé to Rabat for work. Rabat is the seventh-largest city in Morocco. It has a population of 515,619 people as of 2024. The wider metropolitan area is much larger. It holds approximately 2.1 million people as of 2025.

The name Rabat comes from the Arabic word *ribat*. This term refers to an Islamic base or a fortification. The full name was *Ribāṭu al-Fatḥ*. This translates to the "ribat of conquest" or "stronghold of victory." The Almohads gave the city this title in 1170. They established it as a naval base. The city has deep roots in ancient history. Archaeologists debate if Phoenician traders settled here in the first millennium BC. Later, the Romans controlled the area. They built a city called Sala Colonia at the site of Chellah. This was one of two main Roman naval outposts on the Atlantic coast.

During the medieval period, the city underwent many changes. In the 10th century, a *ribat* was founded to defend against the Barghawata Berbers. The Almohad caliph Abd al-Mu'min built a new citadel called a *kasbah* around 1150. This structure is the current Kasbah of the Udayas.

He also dug an underground canal to bring water to the area. This allowed the city to grow. Later, the caliph Abu Yusuf Ya'qub al-Mansur began a massive project. He wanted to build a fortified imperial capital. This project included a large mosque. The remains of this mosque include the Hassan Tower. However, the project was never finished. The city was later largely abandoned.

In the 17th century, Rabat saw a new kind of population. Many Moriscos fled Spain after 1609. These were people of Muslim or Moorish descent. Between 5,000 and 14,000 refugees settled in the area. Rabat and Salé joined to form the Republic of Bou Regreg in 1627. This republic became a base for corsairs. These pirates were known as the "Salé Rovers." They attacked merchant ships near Western Europe. The area grew with the construction of the Andalusian Wall. This wall helped define the northern part of the city.

The 'Alawi dynasty eventually brought central rule to the region. The sultans used Rabat as a royal residence. Sultan Moulay Isma'il expanded the kasbah in the late 17th century. He built a royal residence that is now a museum. Later, Sultan Sidi Muhammad ibn 'Abdallah established the Dar al-Makhzen. This is a royal palace in the southwest part of the walled area.

Sultan Moulay Slimane also built a seaside palace called Dar al-Bahr. He created the Mellah, which was a Jewish quarter. By the end of the 19th century, the city had about 25,000 inhabitants. The city walls were extended to cover 840 hectares.

French colonial rule began in 1912 with a protectorate. General Hubert Lyautey became the French administrator. He chose to move the capital from Fez to Rabat. Lyautey believed the coast was more accessible. He also liked its proximity to Casablanca. He hired Henri Prost to design the *Ville Nouvelle*. This was a modern quarter for administration. The city grew rapidly under French rule. In 1921, the population was 33,714. By 1952, it had grown to 156,000 people.

Morocco achieved independence in 1956. King Mohammed V decided to keep Rabat as the capital. The city continued to grow after independence. The population of Rabat reached 368,000 by 1971. Today, Rabat is a major center for travel and culture. You can reach it by train via the ONCF system.

You can also arrive by plane at the Rabat–Salé Airport. The medina is a World Heritage Site. This recognition highlights its global importance. Rabat remains one of Morocco's four imperial cities.