Oriental (Morocco)

Oriental
الشرق (Arabic)
ⴰⵙⵏⵇⵔ (Standard Moroccan Tamazight)
Region
Jebel Tamejout - Grotte du Chameau (Zegzel)
Jebel Tamejout - Grotte du Chameau (Zegzel)
Official seal of Oriental
Seal
Location in Morocco
Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 34°41′N 1°54′W / 34.683°N 1.900°W / 34.683; -1.900
Country Morocco
CapitalOujda
Government
 • Wali (Governor)Mhamed Atfaoui
 • PresidentAbdenbi Baiyoui (PAM)
Area
 • Total
90,127 km2 (34,798 sq mi)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
2,269,378
 • Density25.180/km2 (65.215/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
Websiteconseilregionoriental.ma

Oriental region or Oujda region[a] is one of the twelve regions of Morocco, located in the north-eastern part of the country. With an area of 90,127 km2 and a population of 2,269,378 (2024 census),[5] it is the easternmost region of Morocco.

The capital and the largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador. The region includes 7 provinces and one prefecture.

The majority of the population of the Oriental Region speaks Moroccan Arabic (86.2%) as a first or second language. According to the 2024 census, 31.1% of the inhabitants of the Oriental Region speak Tarifit.[6] Small numbers speak Eastern Middle Atlas Tamazight and Figuig Tamazight, principally in the south of Oriental.[7]

Etymology

The English name Oriental is derived from the French term L'Oriental (for "the east") and comes directly from the Latin orientalis, "of the east", being that the region is located in the east of Morocco.[8] The Arabic name Ash-Sharq also means "the east".

History

On 19 October 2025, Mhamed Atfaoui was appointed Wali of the Oriental region and Governor of the Oujda Angad prefecture by King Mohammed VI, during a Council of Ministers meeting in Rabat.[9]

Geography

Oriental is situated in the northeastern part of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, lie to its northwest, Taza-Fès-Meknès to its west, Drâa-Tafilalet to the southwest, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region. In 2015, Oriental was expanded to include Guercif Province.

The region is made up into the following prefectures and provinces:[10]

Provinces of Oriental
  • Berkane Province
  • Driouch Province
  • Figuig Province
  • Guercif Province
  • Jerada Province
  • Nador Province
  • Oujda-Angad Prefecture
  • Taourirt Province

Municipalities by population

Main square of Oujda, the regional capital and largest city.
Name Province/Prefecture Population (2014)[11]
Oujda Oujda-Angad Prefecture 494,252
Nador Nador Province 161,726
Berkane Berkane Province 109,237
Taourirt Taourirt Province 103,398
Beni Ensar / Aït Nsar Nador Province 56,582
Al Aaroui Nador Province 47,599
Jerada Jerada Province 43,506
El Aioun Sidi Mellouk Taourirt Province 41,832
Bouarg Nador Province 37,737
Zaio Nador Province 35,806
Zeghanghane Nador Province 34,025
Sidi Slimane Echcharraa Berkane Province 30,202
Bouarfa Figuig Province 28,846
Bni Chiker Nador Province 26,884
Oulad Settout Nador Province 23,218
Selouane Nador Province 21,570
Boughriba Berkane Province 20,513
Ahfir Berkane Province 19,630
Arekmane Nador Province 18,490
Mtalssa Driouch Province 16,787
Talsint Figuig Province 16,166
Bni Tadjite Figuig Province 16,149
Zegzel Berkane Province 16,137
Tendrara Figuig Province 15,390
Midar Driouch Province 17,042
Driouch Driouch Province 14,741
Ben Taieb Driouch Province 14,257
Temsamane Driouch Province 13,920
Ain Bni Mathar Jerada Province 13,526
Figuig Figuig Province 12,516

Notable people

Arts & Cinema

  • Hafid Bouazza, writer
  • Hamid Bouchnak, Moroccan raï singer and songwriter
  • Nathalie Delon, actress and director
  • Douzi, singer and songwriter
  • Les Freres Megri, rock band very popular in the Arab world, composers and producers.
  • Philippe Faucon, filmmaker
  • Fouad Laroui, writer and economist
  • Michel Qissi, actor
  • Mimoun El Oujdi, Raï singer
  • Younes Megri, actor, singer author of 'Leli Touil' sung by Maria de Rossi & Boney M.
  • Abdelkrim Derkaoui, cinematographer, film director and screenwriter
  • Bassouar Al Maghnaoui, singer
  • Cheikh Mohamed Salah Chaabane, musician, gharnati music
  • Simon Basinger, musicologist, essayist, producer and author
  • Charlotte Slovack, filmmaker
  • Douzi, pop singer
  • Serge Guirao, singer
  • Bayane Belayachi, singer
  • Elwalid Mimoun, artist
  • Khalid izri, artist
  • Namika, musician
  • Mohamed Choukri, writer

Sports

  • Hakim Ziyech, international footballer, semi-final World Cup 2022
  • Adil Belgaid, Olympic judo fighter (3 times World Champion, 6 times African Champion, 3 times Arab Champion, 3 times Olympian)
  • Achraf Ouchen, professional karateka
  • Abdelatif Benazzi, rugby player
  • Philippe Casado, cyclist
  • Selim Amallah, football player
  • Abdelkarim Kissi, footballer
  • Soufiane Kourdou, professional basketball player
  • Moha Rharsalla, footballer
  • Mohammed Qissi, actor, kickboxer, (Bloodsport with Jean Claude Vandamme)
  • Mohcin Cheaouri, track and field athlete, 2 times African champion
  • Yahya Berrabah, Olympic athlete, African champion in long jump
  • Daniel Sanchez, footballer
  • Gilles Simon, Formula 1
  • Ahmed Belkedroussi, football manager
  • Khadfi Rharsallah, footballer
  • Marianne Agulhon, slalom canoeist
  • Mohammed Berrabeh, international footballer
  • Hassan Alla, footballer
  • Mohammed Ben Brahim, footballer
  • Khalid Chalqi, footballer
  • Gerard Soler, football midfielder
  • Khalid Lebji, football midfielder
  • Abou El Kacem Hadji, footballer
  • Ryad El Alami, footballer
  • Abdelah Kafifi, footballer
  • Mohamed Atmani, boxer (Summer Olympics)
  • Soufiane Kourdou, basketball player
  • Houssam Amaanan, footballer
  • Habib Allah Dahmani, footballer
  • Abdelkader El Brazi, former international goalkeeper
  • Aziz Bouhaddouz, international footballer
  • Fouzi Lekjaa, football administrator and businessman
  • Hicham El Guerrouj, former Olympic athlete, world record holder for the fastest mile also the current world record holder in the 1500m and 2000m
  • Mohammed Hendouf, Moroccan-Belgian kickboxer

Politics & Diplomats

  • Ahmed Osman, former prime minister, married King Hassan II's sister, Lalla Nuzha of Morocco
  • Zoulikha Nasri, advisor to King Mohammed IV, MD of foundation 'Mohammed V for Solidarity'
  • Muhammad Ben Abdessalam Al Muqri, late 19th senior official, advisor and grand vizier to several sultans
  • Abdelkader Lecheheb, football player and Ambassador to Russia
  • Mohamed Allal Sinaceur, former Minister of Cultural Affairs
  • Jamal Benomar, politician
  • Ahmed Aboutaleb, politician
  • Mohamed Habib Sinaceur, politician
  • Ahmed Toufiq Hejira, former Minister of Housing and Urbanism
  • Kaddour El Ouartassi, historian
  • Najima Rhozali, politician, professor
  • Yvette Katan Bensamoun, historian
  • Omar Benjelloun, journalist
  • Abdelaziz Bouteflika, (1937–2021), 5th President of Algeria
  • Abdelnour Abbrous, politician
  • Chakib Khelil, politician
  • Hassnae Bouazza, journalist, writer, columnist
  • Louisette Ighilariz, politician
  • Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, politician
  • Germain Ayache, historian

Other

  • Abdelrazzak Hifti, 2022 World Cup team doctor
  • Maurice Levy, French businessman, chairman of Publicis Group

References

  1. ^ "Ministère de la Jeunesse, de la Culture et de la Communication". Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Chef du Gouvernement". Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Maghreb Arabe Presse". Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Maroc". Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  5. ^ Gauthier, Christophe. "كلمة افتتاحية للسيد المندوب السامي للتخطيط بمناسبة الندوة الصحفية الخاصة بتقديم معطيات الإحصاء العام للسكان والسكنى 2024". Site institutionnel du Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Royaume du Maroc (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  6. ^ Gauthier, Christophe. "كلمة افتتاحية للسيد المندوب السامي للتخطيط بمناسبة الندوة الصحفية الخاصة بتقديم معطيات الإحصاء العام للسكان والسكنى 2024". Site institutionnel du Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Royaume du Maroc (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  7. ^ "Population selon les langues nationales par régions en 2014 (%)". 13 Oct 2015. p. 30. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 23 Dec 2016.
  8. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Douglas Harper. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  9. ^ MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-10-20). "Who are the 15 new Walis and Governors appointed by the King?". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  10. ^ "Décret fixant le nom des régions" (PDF). Portail National des Collectivités Territoriales (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  11. ^ "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat 2014". Hcp.ma. Archived from the original on 2015-09-14. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  1. ^ Arabic: الشرق, romanized: aš-šarq
    Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⴰⵙⵏⵇⵔ[1][2][3] or ⵓⵏⵇⵇⴰⵔ[4]
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