Saidia

Morocco, Morocco

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Saïdia, known as the "Blue Pearl," is a coastal resort town in northeastern Morocco, located in Berkane Province in the Oriental region, along the Mediterranean Sea and right next to the Moroccan-Algerian border.

It is Morocco's easternmost beach, situated about 65 kilometers northwest of Oujda and 30 kilometers north of the provincial capital Berkane, with a population of approximately 11,000 to 18,000 people at an elevation of just 4 meters above sea level. The town is famous for its 14-kilometer coastline, one of the longest beaches in Morocco, featuring golden sand, clean turquoise waters, and a pleasant Mediterranean climate that makes it a popular international tourist destination.

Saïdia has grown into Morocco's third-most important beach resort after Agadir and Essaouira, hosting numerous attractions including private beach resorts, a modern marina with docked yachts, shopping malls, golf courses, and sports centers. The town became a resort destination during the French protectorate in 1913 when it was popular with French settlers, and after Morocco's independence, it continued attracting visitors and developed into one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.