The Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway: Backbone of the South

A 1,055-Kilometre Road

Launched by King Mohammed VI in 2015 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Green March, the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway stretches some 1,055 kilometres along the Atlantic corridor of southern Morocco.

The route is built in three main sections: Tiznit to Guelmim, Guelmim to Laâyoune and Laâyoune to Dakhla. The final stretches were opened in early 2025, completing the full corridor.

Cost and Engineering

The project represents a total investment on the order of 10 billion dirhams. The long Laâyoune-Guelmim section alone required several billion dirhams, reflecting the scale of building across desert and coastal terrain.

To keep traffic flowing year-round, the road includes numerous large bridges designed to prevent closures caused by floods and bad weather, a recurring challenge in the region's wadis.

Who Benefits

The expressway serves the southern regions and their provinces, reaching a population estimated at more than two million inhabitants. It cuts travel times, improves road safety and reduces transport costs for goods and people.

For local businesses in fisheries, agriculture and tourism, the faster link to national and international markets is a meaningful economic boost.

A Corridor Beyond Borders

The road is more than a domestic link. It is part of Morocco's wider ambition to connect to West Africa and to give landlocked Sahel states a path toward the Atlantic.

Combined with the Dakhla Atlantic Port, the expressway forms the land-and-sea backbone of Morocco's continental integration strategy.

Frequently asked