Meknes

Meknes is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and serves as an important economic hub in the region of Fes-Meknes. Located in northern central Morocco at coordinates 33.89352 latitude and -5.54727 longitude, the city operates within the Africa/Casablanca timezone.

Positioned geographically in a strategic location within the heart of the country, Meknes connects to surrounding territories and major urban centers. To its south and southeast lie the rich cedar forests and mountains of the Middle Atlas mountains, featuring the cities of Ifrane and Azrou, with the rich oases of Tafilalt situated further south. To the west of Meknes are Casablanca and Rabat, the two largest metropolitan areas of Morocco. The mountainous north contains Tangier and Tétouan, while Oujda and Fes lie directly to the east.

Administered as the seat of the Meknès Prefecture within the Fes-Meknes administrative level 1 division, the city recorded a population of 568,295 inhabitants according to geographic datasets. The local population utilizes multiple languages, including ar-MA, ber, and fr, and conducts transactions using the MAD currency.

Originally founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, the settlement expanded significantly when Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif of the Alaouite dynasty made it the capital of Morocco during his reign from 1672 to 1727. Sultan Ismail established a massive imperial palace complex alongside extensive fortifications and monumental gates. During the French colonial administration established in 1912, a new city known as the Ville Nouvelle was constructed on a plateau across the valley on the northeast side of the old city, transforming Meknes into a vital transportation hub for travelers and goods moving across the country.