Al Hoceima Province (ⵜⴰⵙⴳⴰ ⵏ ⵜⵖⵣⵓⵜ) is a predominantly rural province in the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region of northern Morocco. It takes its name from its capital, Al Hoceima, one of the main cities of the Rif region.
Al Hoceima Province
ⵜⴰⵙⴳⴰ ⵏ ⵜⵖⵣⵓⵜ | |
|---|---|
 Quemado Beach in Al Hoceima | |
.svg) Flag | |
 Interactive map of Al Hoceima Province | |
| Country | Morocco |
| Region | Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima |
| Seat | Al Hoceima |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,550 km2 (1,370 sq mi) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 399,654 |
History
editAl Hoceima Province was established in 1959 by Dahir No. 1-59-351 of 2 December 1959 concerning the administrative division of the kingdom, modifying and supplementing the Dahir of 13 October 1956. Covering an area of approximately 3,550 km², it occupies the central and one of the highest parts of the Rif mountain range, reaching 2,452 m at Jebel Tidirhine.
The province is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Taza Province and Taounate Province to the south, Driouch Province to the east, and Chefchaouen Province to the west.[1]
Geography
editLocation
editAl Hoceima Province is located in the eastern part of the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. It covers an area of approximately 3,350 km².
It is bordered by:
- the Mediterranean Sea to the north;
- Nador Province to the east;
- Taza Province and Taounate Province to the south;
- Chefchaouen Province to the west.
The province is characterized by mountainous terrain and a Mediterranean coastline, with a combination of rugged relief and coastal plains.
Urban centres
editNine localities are classified as cities in census terms: the municipalities of Al Hoceima, Bni Bouayach, Imzouren, Targuist, and Ajdir, as well as the urban centers of the rural communes of Aït Youssef Ou Ali, Bni Hadifa, Imrabten, and Issaguen.
Administrative divisions
editAccording to the administrative division established in 2008[2] and amended in 2010[3] and 2013[4], the province is composed of 36 communes, including 5 urban municipalities: Al Hoceima (the capital), Bni Bouayach, Imzouren, Targuist, and Ajdir.
The remaining 31 rural communes are grouped into 17 caïdats within four circles:
- Bni Boufrah Circle:
- caïdat of Bni Boufrah: Bni Boufrah and Senada;
- caïdat of Bni Gmil Mesttassa: Bni Gmil Maksouline and Bni Gmil;
- Bni Ouriaghel Circle:
- caïdat of Arbaa Taourirt: Arbaa Taourirt and Chakrane;
- caïdat of Nekkour: Nekkour and Tifarouine;
- caïdat of Bni Hadifa: Bni Hadifa and Zaouïat Sidi Abdelkader;
- caïdat of Beni Abdallah: Beni Abdallah;
- caïdat of Aït Youssef Ou Ali: Aït Youssef Ou Ali and Louta;
- caïdat of Imrabten: Imrabten;
- caïdat of Izzemouren: Izzemouren and Aït Kamra;
- caïdat of Rouadi: Rouadi;
- Targuist Circle:
- caïdat of Bni Ammart: Bni Ammart and Sidi Bouzineb;
- caïdat of Sidi Boutmim: Sidi Boutmim, Zarqet, and Bni Bchir;
- caïdat of Bni Bounsar: Bni Bounsar and Bni Ahmed Imougzen;
- Ketama Circle:
- caïdat of Ketama: Ketama and Tamsaout;
- caïdat of Issaguen: Issaguen and Moulay Ahmed Cherif;
- caïdat of Tabarrant: Bni Bouchibet and Taghzout;
- caïdat of Ikaouen: Abdelghaya Souahel.
Demography
editThe province is divided administratively into the following:[5]
| Name | Geographic code | Type | Households | Population (2004) | Foreign population | Moroccan population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Hoceima | 051.01.01. | Municipality | 11554 | 55357 | 95 | 55262 | |
| Bni Bouayach | 051.01.03. | Municipality | 2956 | 15497 | 1 | 15496 | |
| Imzouren | 051.01.05. | Municipality | 5147 | 26575 | 5 | 26570 | |
| Targuist | 051.01.07. | Municipality | 2219 | 11560 | 1 | 11559 | |
| Bni Boufrah | 051.03.01. | Rural commune | 1764 | 10298 | 1 | 10297 | |
| Bni Gmil | 051.03.03. | Rural commune | 1313 | 9461 | 1 | 9460 | |
| Bni Gmil Maksouline | 051.03.05. | Rural commune | 1324 | 9922 | 0 | 9922 | |
| Senada | 051.03.07. | Rural commune | 1601 | 9870 | 0 | 9870 | |
| Ait Kamra | 051.05.01. | Rural commune | 1200 | 6742 | 0 | 6742 | |
| Ait Youssef Ou Ali | 051.05.03. | Rural commune | 2981 | 16462 | 4 | 16458 | 3987 residents live in the center, called Ajdir; 12475 residents live in rural areas. |
| Arbaa Taourirt | 051.05.05. | Rural commune | 1156 | 7272 | 0 | 7272 | |
| Bni Abdallah | 051.05.07. | Rural commune | 1263 | 7566 | 0 | 7566 | |
| Bni Hadifa | 051.05.09. | Rural commune | 1134 | 6328 | 0 | 6328 | 2061 residents live in the center, called Bni Hadifa; 4267 residents live in rural areas. |
| Chakrane | 051.05.11. | Rural commune | 1004 | 6769 | 0 | 6769 | |
| Imrabten | 051.05.13. | Rural commune | 1731 | 10098 | 0 | 10098 | 1788 residents live in the center, called Tamassint; 8310 residents live in rural areas. |
| Izemmouren | 051.05.15. | Rural commune | 864 | 4437 | 4 | 4433 | |
| Louta | 051.05.17. | Rural commune | 1035 | 6325 | 0 | 6325 | |
| Nekkour | 051.05.19. | Rural commune | 1919 | 11524 | 0 | 11524 | |
| Rouadi | 051.05.21. | Rural commune | 1467 | 8092 | 3 | 8089 | |
| Tifarouine | 051.05.23. | Rural commune | 919 | 5669 | 0 | 5669 | |
| Zaouiat Sidi Abdelkader | 051.05.25. | Rural commune | 938 | 5974 | 1 | 5973 | |
| Abdelghaya Souahel | 051.07.01. | Rural commune | 3337 | 24013 | 3 | 24010 | |
| Bni Ahmed Imoukzan | 051.07.03. | Rural commune | 1355 | 8949 | 0 | 8949 | |
| Bni Ammart | 051.07.05. | Rural commune | 1261 | 8084 | 0 | 8084 | |
| Bni Bchir | 051.07.07. | Rural commune | 851 | 5959 | 0 | 5959 | |
| Bni Bouchibet | 051.07.09. | Rural commune | 1285 | 8102 | 3 | 8099 | |
| Bni Bounsar | 051.07.11. | Rural commune | 1123 | 8112 | 1 | 8111 | |
| Issaguen | 051.07.13. | Rural commune | 2466 | 15425 | 0 | 15425 | 1638 residents live in the center, called Issaguen; 13787 residents live in rural areas. |
| Ketama | 051.07.15. | Rural commune | 2444 | 15924 | 0 | 15924 | |
| Moulay Ahmed Cherif | 051.07.17. | Rural commune | 1292 | 9673 | 0 | 9673 | |
| Sidi Boutmim | 051.07.19. | Rural commune | 1689 | 10242 | 0 | 10242 | |
| Sidi Bouzineb | 051.07.21. | Rural commune | 706 | 4888 | 0 | 4888 | |
| Taghzout | 051.07.23. | Rural commune | 912 | 5115 | 0 | 5115 | |
| Tamsaout | 051.07.25. | Rural commune | 1817 | 12610 | 0 | 12610 | |
| Zerkat | 051.07.27. | Rural commune | 1048 | 6750 | 0 | 6750 | |
Languages
editThe province of Al Hoceima is characterized by notable linguistic diversity, as it is home to three main linguistic varieties: Tarifit, Senhaja Berber, and dialectal Arabic.[6]
References
edit- ↑ "Province of Al Hoceima". Regional Investment Center of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (in French). 14 July 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ↑ "Decree No. 2-08-520 of 28 Chaoual 1429 (28 October 2008) establishing the list of circles, caïdats, and communes of the Kingdom" (PDF). Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Morocco (in French) (5684): 1597. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
- ↑ "Decree No. 2-10-365 of 16 Kaada 1431 (25 October 2010) amending Decree No. 2-08-520" (PDF). Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Morocco (in French) (5892): 2032. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
- ↑ "Decree No. 2-13-126 of 30 Joumada I 1434 (11 April 2013) creating circles and caïdats" (PDF). Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Morocco (in French) (6148): 1908. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ↑ "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat de 2004" (PDF). Haut-commissariat au Plan, Lavieeco.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ↑ FR, Hespress (2023-08-24). "L'Amazigh de Senhaja, une langue porteuse du patrimoine culturel riche de la province d'Al Hoceima" [Senhaja Berber, a language that carries the rich cultural heritage of the province of Al Hoceima]. Hespress Français - Actualités du Maroc (in French).