Rabat

About Rabat

Rabat is the capital city of Morocco, located on the northwestern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. Rabat is the country's seventh-largest city with a population of 515,619 (2024) and the second largest metropolitan area after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 2.1 million (2025). It is also the capital city of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra administrative region. Rabat is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg, opposite Salé, the city's main commuter town.

Rabat was founded in the 12th century, by the Almohads. After a period of growth, the city fell into a period of decline. In the 17th century, Rabat became a haven for the Barbary corsairs. When the French established a protectorate over Morocco in 1912, Rabat became its administrative center. When Morocco achieved independence in 1956, Rabat became its capital.

Rabat is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco, and its medina is listed as a World Heritage Site. It is accessible by train through the ONCF system and by plane through the nearby Rabat–Salé Airport.

The name Rabat comes from the Arabic word الرباط (a-Ribāṭ) meaning the ribat, an Islamic base or fortification. This name is...

Overview adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA. Photography via Wikimedia Commons.