Benguerir

Benguerir
ابن جرير
ⴱⵏⴳⵔⵉⵔ
City
A view of Benguerir from the ONCF train station.
Interactive map of Benguerir
Coordinates: 32°14′12.036″N 7°57′12.528″W / 32.23667667°N 7.95348000°W / 32.23667667; -7.95348000
CountryMorocco
RegionMarrakesh-Safi
ProvinceRehamna
Government
 • MayorOuardi Abdellatif
Elevation
449 m (1,473 ft)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
114,872
 • Rank32nd in Morocco
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
WebsiteBenguerir Commune

Benguerir (Moroccan Arabic: بن ڭرير; Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⴱⵏ ⴳⵔⵉⵔ; officially in Arabic: Arabic: ابن جرير) is a city in central Morocco and the administrative center of the Rehamna province, within the Marrakesh-Safi region. The city is situated in the historical territory of the Rahamna tribe and is notable for its educational, industrial, and military significance.

Name and etymology

The name derives from "son of Jarir" (or "Ben Guerir") following a common Moroccan geographic pattern (similar to Ben Slimane or Fquih Ben Salah). The name can be traced back to an individual associated with the Hilalian tribe of Oulrd Jarir who settled along the trade route linking Fes and Marrakesh, creating a weekly Tuesday market (Souq Tlat Ibn Jarir) in the area. Because he was neutral to Rahamna tribal factions, the site served as an open gathering point. The local Arabic dialect permits the phonetic alternation between the knotted kaf / gaf (ڭ) and standard jim (ج), making Benguerir and Ibn Jarir linguistically identical.

The city's name is rendered in several spelling variations in Arabic:

Geography

Benguerir lies in the semi-arid region of Rehamna (Köppen: BSh), evolving towards an arid climate during recurrent droughts. It is water-scarce and subject to extreme climate vulnerability and temperature fluctuations, ranging from minimum temperatures of 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) to 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) to maximum temperatures of 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) to 39.3 °C (102.7 °F). Peak maximum land surface temperature went from 33.90 °C (93.02 °F) in 1994 to 46.30 °C (115.34 °F) in 2024.

The annual average daily maximum and minimum temperature are 27.03 °C (80.65 °F) and 19.12 °C (66.42 °F). August is the hottest month of the year with a maximum and minimum average daily temperature of 37.02 °C (98.64 °F) and 27.72 °C (81.90 °F). January is the coldest month of the year with a maximum and minimum average daily temperature in the range respectively of 18.14 °C (64.65 °F) and 11.37 °C (52.47 °F).

The Benguerir countryside after heavy rainfalls in February 2026.

Annual rainfall varied between 168 mm and 230 mm between 2013 and 2019, with 85% of all rainfall happening between October and April and entirely dry summer months (< 1 mm). In early 2026, during the end of the drought in Morocco, rainfall considerably increased in Rehamna, and regenerated the vegetative cover across 57,000 hectares (220 sq mi) of land in the region. Benguerir recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall accumulation in Morocco on March 24, 2026, reaching 19 mm, and on April 11, 2026, recording an 24-hour total of 34 mm.

History

Pre-colonial period

Benguerir was originally founded as a weekly Tuesday market (souk) known as Souq Tlat Ibn Jarir (Arabic: ثلاث بن جرير), by an individual, most probably a merchant, from the Hilalian tribe of Oulad Jarir, who regularly travelled between Fez and Marrakesh for trade, named Ibn Jarir. The precise date of its foundation remains unknown. The market acted as a crossroad between Marrakesh, Fez and Atlantic ports (like Safi and El Jadida). Its site was selected because of its flat terrain, accessible groundwater, proximity to established tribes and position along a protected historic caravan route secured by rest posts (nzayil, Arabic: نزائل). The site also functioned as a neutral meeting ground between tribes, without territorial dispute, as the founder was not a member of the local Rahamna factions. The founder was neither a Sufi saint (wali) nor is there a tomb (darih) or religious lodge (zawiya) associated with the site.

The Benguerir vicinity (buildings) and local inhabitants in 1912-1913 (colorized)
The Benguerir vicinity and local inhabitants in 1912-1913 (colorized).

During the reigns of sultans Hassan I and Abdelaziz, the Makhzen actively invested in the Rehamna region's pastoral economy. Documents from the Hassani archives show the Makhzen supplied local tribal leaders with work animals in the late 19th century.

French protectorate (1912-1956)

In August 1912, French military units under Colonel Charles Mangin mobilized south from Mechra Ben Abbou through Skhour Rhamna to suppress the anti-colonial uprising led by Ahmed al-Hiba. On the 29th of August 1912, Mangin's expeditionary column engaged Ahmed al-Hiba's forces at Benguerir, routing the southern detachment and securing the forward approach toward Marrakesh. French military records officially designated the action of 29 August 1912 as the Benguerir Affair (French: Affaire de Ben Guerir) a key engagement preceding the decisive Battle of Sidi Bou Othmane on the 6th of September 1912. Under the French Protectorate, the colonial administration governed the Rehamna region through Caid El-Hajj El-Ayyadi ben El-Hachemi [fr], who allied with General Hubert Lyautey to control the northern entrance to Marrakesh. Caid El-Ayyadi established a fortified estate and residence in Benguerir, maintaining administrative coordination with French officials.

The water source of the original souk was absorbed into the railway grounds in the early 20th century to build a water tower servicing the stations and early municipal offices. The town was documented in French Protectorate writings. Benguerir developed as a regional rail stop following the expansion of Morocco's standard-gauge network, with the final rail junction connecting Casablanca to Marrakesh completed through the town in 1928.[better source needed] In 1932, the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer du Maroc [fr] completed the standard-gauge railway line branching west from Benguerir to the port of Safi, transforming the town into a junction.

Post-independence

In 1980, the Benguerir mine [fr], managed by OCP Group, entered production.

The launch of the Casablanca–Marrakesh expressway in 2008 hurt the city's economy. In 2018, a new train station was built and replaced the smaller existing one. In 2026, the green corridor of Benguerir was set to undergo a transformation along a new section of its route, for a budget of approximately 22.5 million dirhams, as part of a 2024-2027 urban renewal and development program. Planned work includes landscaping, the creation and expansion of parking lots, sewer and stormwater drainage systems, new road markings and traffic signs, recreational areas, public restrooms, street furniture among other amenities, and improved solar-powered LED panels.

Transportation

Rail

The Benguerir railway station in October 2026
The Benguerir railway station in October 2026
Railway tracks viewed from the station

The Benguerir train station links the city to the rest of the Moroccan rail network, with trains running daily to all other major cities including a direct line to Safi through Youssoufia, another phosphate-rich town. In the framework of the Kenitra-Marrakech high speed rail line, a new "Benguerir Green City" train station is planned for construction, but the first call for tender was unsuccessful due to a lack of bidders, in part caused by a deficit in workforce and a rapid increase of ongoing construction projects. Benguerir is also planned to be linked to the future regional train network of the Rehamna region.

Road

The main exit from Benguerir towards the Casablanca–Agadir expressway and the National Route 11 (Morocco)

Benguerir is linked to the Casablanca–Agadir A3 Highway.

Demographics

According to the 2024 Moroccan Census, Benguerir has a population of 114,872 people, comprising 27,167 households, with the average household size at 4.2 people. 28.70% of the city's population is under 15 years old.

Benguerir Population
Year 2004 2014 2024
Pop.62,69388,626114,872
±% p.a.—    +3.52%+2.63%
Census data from 2004, 2014 and 2024

The illiteracy rate stands at 20.6% (13.90% for males and 26.30% for females), down from 27.62% in 2014, and the schooling rate for children age 6–11 years old is 97.0%. 25.40% of the literate population can read and write in Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic), French and English, 38.90% can read and write in Arabic and French and only, and the remaining 33.40% can only read and write in Arabic. Only 3.20% of the population has Amazigh (Berber) as its native language, compared to 96.70% for Arabic.

The unemployment rate is 20.30%, and the activity rate stands at 44.50% compared to 47.39% ten years prior (in 2014).

Education

a view of the um6p pergola in the Benguerir campus
The UM6P Benguerir campus in 2020
the main lydex campus at Benguerir
The Lydex (Lycée Mohammed VI d'Excellence) campus

Primary and secondary education

Public primary and secondary schooling in the city operates under the provincial directorate of the Ministry of National Education in Rehamna. Secondary education in central Benguerir is provided through public and private secondary schools (Arabic: مدرسة ثانوية تأهيلية).[citation needed]

The Lycée Mohammed VI d'Excellence [fr] (Lydex), opened in 2015 by the OCP Foundation, is a selective STEM residential secondary school and preparatory college (French: Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles, CPGE) known for high student admission rates to French and Moroccan engineering Grandes Écoles. Lydex is recognized for its high admission rates to selective engineering institutions, including the French École Polytechnique and Moroccan national engineering schools.

French-curriculum international primary education was introduced to the city in September 2024 with the opening of an annex of École Jacques-Majorelle in partnership with UM6P and the Mission Laïque Française.

Vocational training

Benguerir hosts a campus of École 1337, a tuition-free peer-to-peer coding academy established in 2018 as part of the international 42 Network, funded by OCP Group to provide alternative programming and software development training.

Higher education

Benguerir is home to University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), a major institution focusing on research, innovation, and sustainable development. The university played a central role in the city’s transformation into a knowledge and technology hub. UM6P hosts specialized institutes in industrial management, agricultural science, and renewable energy, collaborating with the adjacent Green Energy Park (GEP) testing facility.

In December 2024, Benguerir was officially recognized as a UNESCO Learning City for its efforts in promoting inclusive education, lifelong learning, and sustainable urban development.

Economy

Phosphate mining

A dragline track used in the Benguerir phosphate mine by OCP.

The city is a major center for the extraction and processing of phosphate rock, primarily operated by the OCP Group, one of the world's largest phosphate exporters. The Benguerir mine [fr], whose construction works began in 1974 and entered production in 1980, is the second largest phosphate deposit currently exploited by OCP Group in Morocco.

It contains estimated reserves of over 1.74 billion tons of phosphate rock distributed between the North Mine and the South Mine, and it is exploited entirely through open-pit mining using the direct discovery method with giant draglines and hydraulic excavators.[better source needed] The extracted ore is processed and enriched on site at the Benguerir washing plant, which has a capacity of 3 million tons per year, before being transported by rail (ONCF) to the chemical platform and the export port of Safi.

Mohammed VI Green City

OCP has spearheaded efforts to develop Benguerir into a model green city, integrating sustainable urban planning and environmental practices, through the Mohammed VI Green City project (also referred to as the Benguerir Green City). The Mohammed VI Green City project was officially initiated in December 2009 by King Mohammed VI as part of OCP Group's regional development initiatives. The pilot ecological city achieved certification under the international LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development) pilot system, making it the first urban-scale development to obtain this designation in Africa. The Green City is legally situated within the municipal boundaries of the Commune of Benguerir. Its zoning master plan was formally approved by local and provincial planning authorities in 2012.

The main road of the Mohammed VI Green City, linking between the Benguerir core and Hay Moulay Rachid.

The development and management of the master plan were delegated to the SADV (French: Société d'Aménagement et de Développement Vert, lit. 'Green Planning and Development Company'), a public limited subsidiary fully owned by OCP S.A. with an initial share capital of 165 million MAD.

UM6P viewed from the main road of the Green City.

The initial governmental decree approving the project estimated total expenditure at 4.70 billion MAD, allocated across land acquisition, site servicing, basic infrastructure, and technical studies. The master plan envisions accommodating approximately 90,000 residents across roughly 23,000 mixed housing units over an urban footprint of 900 to 1,000 hectares. A 4-kilometre landscaped ecological corridor named the Coulée verte (Green corridor), spanning 80 hectares with an afforestation program of 50,000 trees across five oasis nodes, was designed to link the new urban extension with historic Benguerir. To prevent depletion of local groundwater reserves in an arid region, the irrigation of public parks and green spaces across the Green City is partially supplied by treated municipal effluent from the Benguerir wastewater treatment plant, which also produces biogas used for electricity production (which supplies about a third of the plant's electricity needs).[self-published source?]

University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) forms the central institutional anchor of the city and was formally inaugurated by King Mohammed VI on 12 January 2017. The urban campus of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University was designed through a collaboration between Spanish Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill (RBTA) and Moroccan architect Elie Mouyal.

Academic studies examine the lack of organic urban and socioeconomic integration between the "historic" Benguerir and the Green City. Urban geography scholarship critiques the corporate marketing of the project as potential greenwashing, noting the high maintenance costs of lush greenery and risks of territorial autarky in an arid climate.

Pictures of the Mohammed VI Green City

Industrial Acceleration Zone

A ZAI (French: Zone d'Accélération Industrielle, lit. 'Industrial Acceleration Zone') of 138 hectares was created in the commune of Oulad Hassoune Hamri, near Benguerir, through a government decree in March 2025 with the objective of generating 12,000 jobs (5,000 direct and 7,000 indirect) in green industries, agri-food and logistics.

Military

Benguerir hosts the Ben Guerir Air Base, currently operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force. It previously served as a United States Air Force base until 2005, and a Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site for the Space Shuttle between 1988 and 2002.

See also

References

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