Mohammedia

{{about|the city in Morocco}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Mohammedia | native_name = {{lang|ar|المحمدية}} | nickname = | settlement_type = City | motto =  | image_skyline = {{Photomontage | photo1a = Grand complexe commercial avec résidence à Mohamedia (Fdala).JPG | photo2a = Le parc des villes jumelées Mohammedia.jpg | photo2b = Mohammedia Prefecture.jpg | photo3a = La cathédrale de mohamedia (Fdala).jpg | size = 275 | spacing = 2 | color = transparent | border = 0 }} | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Morocco#Africa | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Morocco | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Morocco}} | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Casablanca-Settat | subdivision_type2 = Prefecture | subdivision_name2 = Mohammedia Prefecture | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 =  | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Hicham Aït Manna<ref>{{cite news |title=Hicham Aït Mana appointed as new mayor of Mohammedia|url=https://www.mjtnews.com/2021/09/20/hicham-ait-mana-rni-is-the-new-mayor-of-mohammedia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201200631/https://www.mjtnews.com/2021/09/20/hicham-ait-mana-rni-is-the-new-mayor-of-mohammedia|archive-date=1 Dec 2022|url-status=live }}</ref> | leader_title1 =  | leader_name1 = | established_title =  | established_date =  | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Metric  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 =  | area_land_km2 =  | population_as_of = 2024 | population_footnotes = <ref name=census2024>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601155247/https://www.hcp.ma/file/242342/ |title= Population légale du Royaume du Maroc répartie par régions, provinces et préfectures et communes selon les résultats du Recensement général de la population et de l’habitat 2024 |language=ar, fr |publisher=High Commission for Planning, Morocco |date=7 November 2024}}</ref> | population_note = | population_total = 194,358 | population_density_km2 = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = Ethnicities | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | coordinates = {{coord|33|41|N|7|23|W|region:MA|display=inline}} | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = | elevation_ft =  | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Mohammedia''' ({{langx|ar|المحمدية|al-Muḥammadiyya}}), known until 1960 as '''Fedala''' ({{langx|ar|فضالة|Faḍāla}}), is a port city on the west coast of Morocco between Casablanca and Rabat in the region of Casablanca-Settat. It hosts the most important oil refinery of Morocco, Samir Refinery, which makes it the center of the Moroccan petroleum industry. It has a population of 514,057 as of 2024 estimate.<ref name=census2014>{{cite web |url=http://rgph2014.hcp.ma/file/166326/ |title=POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D'APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014 |language=ar, fr |publisher=High Commission for Planning, Morocco |date=8 April 2015 |access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref>

==History== === Early history === left|thumb|A farm in Fedallah in 1936. left|thumb|200px|The entry of the Kasbah and the Al Atik Mosque in the backgroundThe harbor, which is now Mohammedia, was originally named Fedala ({{lang|ar|فضالة}}). The name comes from the Arabic words ''Fadl Allah'' ({{lang|ar|فضل الله}}) which means "favor of God". According to Graberg de Hemsö, it comes from ''Fayḍ Allāh'', meaning "bounty of God".<ref>{{Citation |last=Adam |first=A. |title=Faḍāla |date=2012-04-24 |work=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition |url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/fadala-SIM_2219 |access-date=2024-03-10 |publisher=Brill |language=en}}</ref> Traces still exist of its business role under the Almoravid dynasty. It was frequented in the 14th and 15th centuries by merchant ships from Europe seeking cereals and dried fruits.

In 1773, the Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah made of Fédala a grains warehouse of Tamasna province and built the Kasbah to protect the shops for traders. He built the white mosque Al Atik as well.

===French Protectorate=== thumb|200px|German officers captured at Fedala, 1943 During the precolonial period, competition between the Western powers to ensure the economical exploitation of Africa was behind the merger of Europeans interests in the ports of Morocco. In the region of Fédala, the German family Mannesmann acquired a large area of land.

The Treaty of November 4, 1911 between France and Germany on the partition of Africa forced the Mannesmann family to abandon the lands they held for Georges and Jacques Hersent, two French industrialists, who noticed the existence of a natural bay, valuable for the creation of a large port at low cost.

The group Hersent created the Franco-Moroccan company in 1912 and founded the port company in 1914 that took a leading part in the development of Fédala. The rapid growth of the city started around the port, which allowed the development of various industries such as canning fishery products, agro-industry plants, tannery, textile, etc..

The seaside town took shape in 1925 and the Esplanade was built in 1938. The construction of the sea line in 1951 made of Fédala the first and most modern oil port in North Africa.

The church of Saint James (Saint Jacques), which overlooks the main square, was erected in 1934 by Jean and Georges Hersent, in memory of their son and nephew Jacques (3 February 1893 - 26 July 1917), who died at the Marne during the First World War.<ref>{{cite web|title= Histoire de la paroisse |publisher=Website of the Church of Saint Jacques |year=2012 |url=http://eglisesaintjacquesmohammedia.blogspot.fr/p/histoire-de-la-paroisse.html |access-date=2013-10-05}}</ref>

====Battle of Fedala==== US Army invaded Fédala from the Atlantic on November 8, 1942, as part of Operation Torch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative In the West |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-NWA/USA-MTO-NWA-7.html |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=www.ibiblio.org}}</ref> The invasion was carried out by the Center Attack Group of the Western Task Force which landed on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The landing began at 4 AM.

===New city=== [[File:Mohammed V of Morocco.jpg|thumb|In 1960, the city was renamed after the reigning King of Morocco, Mohammed V]] {{Tone|section|date=March 2022}} Fédala was renamed Mohammedia on 25 June 1960 in honor of King Mohammed V, the restorer of Moroccan independence, on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Samir oil refinery. The new name indicates the modern character of this city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MOHAMMEDIA {{!}} Centre Régional d'Investissement de Casablanca-Settat |url=https://www.casainvest.ma/en/casablanca-settat-region/prefectures-provinces/mohammedia |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=www.casainvest.ma}}</ref> Today, the city serves as both a seaside resort and a manufacturing center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mohammedia {{!}} Coastal City, Industrial Hub, Mediterranean Port {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Mohammedia |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

Mohammedia is also a resort city containing a golf, tennis club and many other recreational activities. In addition, people call it {{Transliteration|ar|madinat lwurud wa riyada}} which means "city of flowers and sports".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Morocco’s Mohammedia offers calm and flowers in Ramadan {{!}} Faisal Abdul Hassan {{!}} AW |url=https://thearabweekly.com/moroccos-mohammedia-offers-calm-and-flowers-ramadan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821082506/https://thearabweekly.com/moroccos-mohammedia-offers-calm-and-flowers-ramadan |archive-date=2021-08-21 |access-date=2025-07-02 |work=AW |language=en}}</ref>

Within the past decade, Mohammedia's beaches "Sablet & Mimosa" have drawn many people from Casablanca, and its nearby cities. Sablet and Mimosa have been under development, building new beach condos, villas, as well as more investments in small businesses which creates more jobs. Summer is simply the best season in Mohammedia being that there is more involvement due to an increase of the population. There is a wide range of outdoor activities including basketball, soccer, surfing, and fishing. The night life is a great experience to be part of, including several cafes, restaurants, clubs, and a boardwalk. A couple of beach residential areas that are good places for vacation are "Residence of Oubaha" and "Palm Beach." There are several other projects going on in the city of Mohammedia as well as infrastructure throughout the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Casa Aménagement – Vecteur de développement territorial |url=https://www.casa-amenagement.ma/en/mediatheques/corniche-de-mohammedia |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=www.casa-amenagement.ma}}</ref>

On 22 December 2022, a huge explosion erupted after a gas storage facility went up in flames.<ref>{{Cite web |title=دعوات نقابية بفتح تحقيق في أسباب تسرب الغاز بحريق المحمدية |url=https://alyaoum24.com/1756496.html |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=اليوم 24 – أخبار اليوم على مدار الساعة |language=ar}}</ref> Authorities claimed to have no casualties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morocco: Explosion reported at gas storage facility near Mohammedia Port Dec. 22 |url=https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2022/12/morocco-explosion-reported-at-gas-storage-facility-near-mohammedia-port-dec-22 |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Morocco: Explosion reported at gas storage facility near Mohammedia Port Dec. 22 {{!}} Crisis24 |language=en}}</ref> Families and citizens living near the facility have evacuated the surroundings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aamari |first=Oussama |title=Mohammedia Gas Storage Facility Goes Up in Flames |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/12/353176/mohammedia-gas-storage-facility-goes-up-in-flames |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=moroccoworldnews |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-22 |title=حريق في مستودعات الغاز يهز المحمدية |url=https://www.hespress.com/حريق-في-مستودعات-الغاز-يهز-المحمدية-1097006.html |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية |language=ar}}</ref> After 2 hours of the incident, local authorities contained the fires caused by the explosion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-22 |title=Local authorities in Mohammedia say fires successfully contained |url=https://en.hespress.com/55655-local-authorities-in-mohammedia-say-fires-successfully-contained.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=HESPRESS English - Morocco News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==

=== Location === Mohammedia lies along the Atlantic Ocean {{convert|15|mi|0|abbr=off|order=flip}} Northeast of Casablanca. It is located between the outlets of the Rivers Oued El-Maleh and Oued Nfifikh and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the North, Ben Slimane Province to the East and South, and the prefecture of Sidi Bernoussi-Zenata to the West.

===Climate=== Mohammedia has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa). The moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean influences strongly on the city climate and makes its winter soft and warm, and its summer hot and cool. Mohammedia enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year with measurable precipitation annually.

The period of November through April is mild and rainy with average high temperatures of {{convert|63|to|70|F|C|order=flip}} and lows of {{convert|46|to|53|F|C|order=flip}}, however temperatures can occasionally drop to around {{convert|36|°F|0|order=flip}} in the morning, or be as high as {{convert|75|°F|0|order=flip}} for a few days during winter.

The period of May through October is warm to hot and dry with average high temperatures of {{convert|72|to|79|F|C|order=flip}} and lows of {{convert|59|to|68|F|C|order=flip}}, but temperatures can exceed {{convert|90|°F|0|order=flip}} and occasionally reach {{convert|104|°F|0|order=flip}}.

Most rainfall occurs from November to April, and the average annual precipitation is around 432 mm. Precipitation is most commonly in the form of light rain showers, but sometimes there is heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

{{Weather box |location = Mohammedia |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan high C = 17 |Feb high C = 18 |Mar high C = 19 |Apr high C = 20 |May high C = 22 |Jun high C = 24 |Jul high C = 26 |Aug high C = 26 |Sep high C = 26 |Oct high C = 24 |Nov high C = 21 |Dec high C = 18 |Jan low C = 8 |Feb low C = 9 |Mar low C = 11 |Apr low C = 12 |May low C = 15 |Jun low C = 18 |Jul low C = 20 |Aug low C = 20 |Sep low C = 19 |Oct low C = 16 |Nov low C = 13 |Dec low C = 10 |Jan precipitation mm = 64 |Feb precipitation mm = 59 |Mar precipitation mm = 52 |Apr precipitation mm = 43 |May precipitation mm = 20 |Jun precipitation mm = 6 |Jul precipitation mm = 1 |Aug precipitation mm = 1 |Sep precipitation mm = 4 |Oct precipitation mm = 30 |Nov precipitation mm =77 |Dec precipitation mm = 75 |source 1 = msn Weather <ref name="weather1">{{Cite web | url =http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:MOXX0006&q=Mohammedia%2c+MAR+forecast:averagesm| title =Average Conditions Mohammedia, Morocco | publisher = msn Weather}}</ref> |date = August 2010}}

==Subdivisions== The province is divided administratively into the following:<ref name="Pop">{{cite web|url=http://www.lavieeco.com/documents_officiels/Recensement%20population.pdf|title=Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat de 2004|publisher=Haut-commissariat au Plan, Lavieeco.com|access-date=27 April 2012}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Name !! Geographic code !! Type !! Households !! Population (2004)!! Foreign population !! Moroccan population !! Notes |- | Mohammedia || 371.01.01. || Municipality || 39154 || 188619 || 1240 || 187379 || |- | Aïn Harrouda || 371.01.03. || Municipality || 8417 || 41853 || 56 || 41797 || |- | Bni Yakhlef|| 371.03.01. || Rural commune || 5975 || 29723 || 10 || 29713 || 11490 residents live in the center, called Ben Yakhlef; 18233 residents live in rural areas. |- | Ech-Challalate|| 371.03.03. || Rural commune || 7970 || 40311 || 21 || 40290 || |- | Sidi Moussa Ben Ali|| 371.03.05. || Rural commune || 1666 || 9368 || 1 || 9367 || |- | Sidi Moussa Majdoub|| 371.03.07. || Rural commune || 2502 || 12412 || 8 || 12404 || |- |}

==Demographics== The population of Mohammedia is growing at a fast rate. The city, which had a population of only 500 people in 1914, is currently home to about 204,000 people. The population of the prefecture of Mohammedia is estimated at 336,000 inhabitants with an average population density of {{convert|5000|PD/km2}}. All population groups of the Moroccan Kingdom are represented in this region. The first inhabitants of the city were the Zenata tribes, of which only few remain, divided territorially between Mohammedia and neighboring prefectures. Another Arab tribe of Mauritania, called Mjedba, settled between Fédala and Mediouna three centuries ago and are now twice as many as Zenata. {| align="center" rules="all" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" style="border: 1px solid #999; border-right: 2px solid #999; border-bottom:2px solid #999; background: #f3fff3" |+ style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em"| Demographic evolution |-style="background: #ddffdd" ! 1994 !! 2004 !! 2010 !'''2014''' !2024 |- | align=center | {{formatnum:170063}} || align=center | {{formatnum:188619}} || align=center | {{formatnum:203748}} |208.612 |194,358 (Urban) |- | colspan="5" align="center" | <small> 1994, 2004: official census; 2010: 2014, 2024</small> |}

Sources: [https://archive.today/20130211012522/http://gazetteer.de/wg.php?x=1268497150&men=gpro&lng=fr&des=wg&geo=-6450&srt=npan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&geo=-113274]-[http://rgph2014.hcp.ma/file/166326/]-[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/morocco/grandcasablancasettat/admin/371__mohamm%C3%A9dia/]

==Education== {{expand section|date=June 2016}} Since the early 1980s, the city of Mohammedia has attracted university institutions. It has three colleges and two higher institutes, enrolling approximately 25,000 students:

# College of Arts and Humanities # Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences # Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Mohammedia (FSTM) # National Higher School of Technical Education (ENSET) # Higher Institute of Applied Technology for Tourism and Hotels (ISTAH)

There are also other educational institutions in Mohammedia:

# Higher Institute of Applied Technology Lacollines (ISTA) # Higher Industrial Institute of Mohammedia (ISIM) # Yasmina Vocational Rehabilitation Center (CQP) # Port Training Centre (CFA)

The city has also a French international school, Groupe Scolaire Claude Monet, serving ''moyenne section'' through ''collège'' (junior high school).<ref>"[http://www.aefe.fr/reseau-scolaire-mondial/rechercher-un-etablissement/maroc-mohammedia-groupe-scolaire-claude-monet Groupe scolaire Claude-Monet]." AEFE. Retrieved on June 16, 2016.</ref>

== Municipality == Mohammedia, whose size has increased significantly during the second half of the 20th century, is becoming one of the biggest cities in Morocco. New neighborhoods are built in all the parts of the city and more people live in town.

The city is divided into 2 major distinct areas, the Kasbah area, the Al-Alia district.

===Kasbah area=== thumb|300px|The prefecture of Mohammedia This area where stands the Kasbah extends from Souss Street to the Al-Wafaa subdivision. It represents the historical heart of the city and has marked a transitional compromise between an urbanism of modern buildings and monuments, and the forms of ancient old Medina. Many commercials and services exist along the narrow streets of the Kasbah and the boulevards of the surrounding area, such as clothing merchants, wool merchants and fruit sellers. This area, which represents the city center, hosts many administrations, mosques, restaurants, hotels and parks as well. * Subdivisions: The Kasbah, Al-Wafaa, Al-Marsa, Dyour Al-Qraii. * Famous places: Twin Towns Park, Mohamed V boulevard, the Corniche. * Infrastructures and mobility: The railway station, Moulay Abdellah Hospital, the Prefecture, Bachir Stadium.

===Al-Alia=== thumb|left|200px|The municipal theater of Mohammedia This district is located southern in the city on a gentle hill slope, which gives it the name Al-Alia that means the upper side. It was built in 1948 as a solution to the shantytowns problem, where rural population were living, attracted by the industrial development of the city and looking for a job.

Today, the district equals a small city in continuous expansion, equipped by all necessary facilities. * Ancient subdivisions: El Hassania, Derb Marrakech, Diour Doukkala, Derb Jamila, Derb Ourida, Derb Fath, Derb Douchmane, Riyad Salam, Derb Laâyoune, Hay Al-Houria. * New subdivisions: Hay El-Falah, Anfa, Rachidia, Hay Reda, Hay Nasr, Hay el-Fajr, La Colline, Hay Al-Wahda. * Infrastructures and mobility: The Municipal Theater, the Coach Station.

==Economics and transport== ===Port=== The port of Mohammedia specialises in liquid bulk and petro-chemicals.<ref name="marsamaroc-1">{{cite web |url=http://www.marsamaroc.co.ma/espace-corporate/mohammedia |website=marsamaroc.co.ma |publisher=MarsaMaroc |access-date=17 April 2020|title=Port de Mohammedia }}</ref> Mohammedia imports crude oil and it gets refined upon arrival. The port exports fish, chlorine, and sodium carbonate from large factories within the city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-22 |title=Morocco {{!}} History, Map, Flag, Capital, People, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Morocco |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable people== *Abderrahim Achchakir, International footballer *Abraham Serfaty, Moroccan political activist. *Eric Besson, French politician. *Ahmed Faras, Former international Moroccan football footballer. *Noureddine Ziyati, Moroccan footballer. *Tarik El Jarmouni, Moroccan football goalkeeper. *Reda El Amrani, Moroccan tennis player. *Jannat Mahid, Moroccan singer. *Mohamed Al Hachdadi, international volleyball player. * Marwane Saâdane, Moroccan footballer. * Abdelatif Noussir, Moroccan footballer *Noureddine Kacemi, Former international footballer * Hassan Amcharrat, Former international footballer. * Tarik El Jarmouni, Former international goalkeeper. * Tarik Tnibar, footballer. * Rachid Rokki, Former international footballer.

==International Relations== {{See also|List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Africa#Morocco|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Morocco}}

===Twin towns - Sister cities=== Mohammedia is twinned with: {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top" | *{{flagicon|BEL}}

'''Ghent''', Belgium since 1982<ref name="Ghent twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.gent.be/eCache/THE/4/216.cmVjPTEyNDIxNQ.html|title=Ghent Zustersteden|access-date=2013-07-20|work=Stad Gent|publisher=City of Ghent|language=nl}}</ref> *{{flagicon|LBY}}

'''Zawiya''', Libya since 2006 *{{flagicon|FRA}}

'''Perpignan''', France since 2009 *{{flagicon|FRA}}

'''Belfort''', France since 2010 | *{{flagicon|FRA}}

'''Dreux''', France since 2010 *{{flagicon|RUS}}

'''Noginsk''', Russia since 2010<ref>[http://www.lematin.ma/Actualite/Journal/Article.asp?idr=112&id=142117l Résultats de la recherche pour : Maroc] (french)</ref> *{{flagicon|PRC}}

'''Jiangyin''', China since 2011<ref>[http://www.lematin.ma/Actualite/Journal/Article.asp?idr=112&id=147705 Résultats de la recherche pour : Maroc] (french)</ref> |}

==References== {{Commons category|Mohammedia City}} {{Reflist}}

{{Prefectures and provinces of Morocco}} {{Coord|33|41|N|7|23|W|display=title|region:MA_type:city_source:dewiki}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Mohammedia Category:Prefectural capitals in Morocco Category:Municipalities of Morocco Category:Port cities and towns on the Moroccan Atlantic Coast Category:Ports and harbours of Morocco Category:Populated places in Mohammedia Prefecture