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Morocco signs UK agreement for World Cup projects

10 June 2025

Morocco and the UK have signed an agreement to collaborate on critical infrastructure projects ahead of football’s 2030 World Cup.

The agreement was signed during a visit to Morocco by UK foreign secretary David Lammy on 1 June.

The outline of the agreement was detailed in a joint communique: “2030 World Cup government-to-government partnership agreement, signed between the UK Department of Business and Trade and Morocco’s minister delegate of budget, to progress UK-Morocco collaboration on critical infrastructure projects ahead of tournament.”

Morocco has made progress on a variety of infrastructure projects in preparation for the World Cup. For the venues themselves, it has started the tendering process for the Grand Stade Hassan II stadium in Casablanca. Six other stadiums will be renovated in the cities of Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier.

Another major infrastructure development recently was the award of $540m of contracts across nine packages for construction works on the Rabat-Casablanca continental expressway. The contracts were awarded to several local and Chinese firms.

Tendering is also expected to start soon for a contract to build a new terminal at Morocco’s largest airport, Mohammed V International airport in Casablanca. The estimated $1.6bn expansion will increase the airport’s capacity to 30 million passengers a year.

The joint Morocco/UK communique also said: “Regarding the 2030 Fifa World Cup, the UK reiterates its congratulations to Morocco on its successful bid to co-host the tournament. Morocco welcomes the UK government’s technical support and efforts to promote associated commercial opportunities for UK businesses across the value chain.

“Both ministers expressed their commitment to collaborate on priority infrastructure projects ahead of the tournament, including by utilising support from the UK government, where relevant and jointly agreed, as well as expertise from the UK supply chain.”

READ THE JUNE 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

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Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index leaps 4.3%
To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
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Colin Foreman

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      Six development zones

      “The overall masterplan covers an area of more than 635 square kilometres and consists of six development zones: Tahlal, Sahab, Sabrah, Jareen, Rijal and Red Rock,” McBrearty said.

      Tahlal will offer a mix of residential, hospitality, heritage and retail facilities, along with an 18-hole golf course and the Watan Am-Soudah heritage village.

      Sahab will be an international destination for adventure sports and recreation. It will provide views across the valley and within the rolling plateau landscape.

      Sabrah will provide a luxury residential destination supported by high-end hospitality. The development is designed to be integrated within the contours of the southern plateau of Soudah Peaks, with a focus on natural open spaces.

      Rijal will be a hospitality destination with integrated views through to the Rijal Cultural Village. The development will be built around the existing village, which gives it its character.

      The Red Rock zone will offer luxury hospitality, with mansions and glamping camps set within the national park.

      Jareen will allow guests to connect with nature through its agricultural landscape. Visitors can expect authentic experiences such as exploring the mountainside on walking paths and visiting local organic farms.  

      Jareen will be developed as part of the third phase, when the infrastructure and connectivity are fully established within the development.

      Three phases

      “The masterplan will be developed in three phases, and the first phase will include the development of five out of the development’s six zones,” McBrearty said.

      The overall development will offer 2,810 hotel rooms, 1,337 residential units and 30 other attractions.

      The first phase will include 940 hotel keys, 391 residential units and 1,025 staff accommodation units.

      The second phase will increase the total to 1,735 hotel rooms, 641 residential units and 2,150 staff accommodation units.

      The final phase will have over 2,810 hotel rooms, 1,337 residential units and 3,022 staff accommodation units.

      We have several packages ready to be floated to the market by the end of this year. The most immediate of these is the development of site-wide infrastructure
      Daniel McBrearty, Soudah Peaks

      Companies engaged

      In March, SDC appointed US-based engineering firm Aecom as the lead design consultant for the Soudah Peaks development.

      Aecom’s scope of work covers the design work for the first phase of the development.

      Last year, SDC appointed another US-based engineering firm, Parsons Corporation, as the project management consultant for the development.

      Parsons’ scope of work includes project management and site supervision services for the six development zones.

      Project background

      Soudah Peaks is a mountain tourism destination set 3,015 metres above sea level on the country’s highest peak in the Aseer region.

      The project masterplan was formally launched in September 2023 by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al-Saud.

      Speaking at the launch, he said: “Soudah Peaks will be a significant addition to the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia and place the kingdom on the global tourism map while highlighting and celebrating the country’s rich culture and heritage.” 

      Launched in 2021, SDC is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, the Public Investment Fund.

      An investment of SR11bn ($3bn) has been planned to develop tourism infrastructure and attractions in the Aseer region in the southwest of the kingdom.

      SDC intends to partner with the local community and private sector to develop hospitality, residential, commercial and entertainment offerings that will attract more than 2 million visitors a year, creating 8,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs by 2030.

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