Investing in Morocco

Investing in southern Morocco: Ouarzazate, Skoura, Agdz

Kasbahs, palm groves, cinema and desert: why the south draws investors looking for authenticity, what to know before buying and where the opportunities are.

Why the south

Between the Atlas and the desert, the Ouarzazate region offers what more and more travellers are looking for: vast landscapes, earthen kasbahs, palm groves and genuine hospitality. For an investor, it is an emerging destination, with entry prices far lower than in Marrakech and many properties that never reach the listing portals.

Ouarzazate, gateway to the desert

Ouarzazate lives from tourism and cinema: its studios have hosted international shoots for decades, and foreign productions generated around 1.5 billion dirhams in Morocco in 2025, according to the Ministry of Culture. The town is also home to the Noor solar complex, one of the largest in the world, and is a short drive from the UNESCO-listed Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou.

In 2025, a plan of around 820 million dirhams was announced to revive cultural tourism in the area. You will find villas, guest houses and land at accessible prices.

Skoura, the oasis of kasbahs

About forty kilometres from Ouarzazate, Skoura is a palm grove dotted with kasbahs, such as Amridil. It has become a sought-after address for boutique lodges and high-end guest houses, discreet and tucked among the palms. The finest houses are often sold privately.

Agdz and the Draa valley

Further south, Agdz opens the Draa valley and its palm groves towards Zagora. Kasbahs to restore, ksour, earthen houses with gardens: ideal ground for a guest house or a second home off the beaten track.

What to know before buying

The title: many properties are held under melkia. Check the chain of ownership with a notary or an adoul, and register the property if possible.
Agricultural land: a plot in a palm grove is often agricultural. A foreigner cannot buy it without authorisation: consider a Moroccan company or a property in a building zone.
Water: drought hits the oases hard. Check water rights, the well and the supply.
Earthen building: rammed earth has a unique charm, but it needs skilled craftsmen and regular upkeep.
Access: the road from Marrakech crosses the Tichka pass, about four hours. The tunnel project meant to shorten the journey is still being studied.

My advice

The south rewards well-prepared projects: a guest house with character, a lodge in a palm grove, a restored kasbah. I have off-market properties in Skoura, Ouarzazate and Agdz, and I can guide you through the checks, which matter even more here than in town.

Frequently asked questions

Why invest in Ouarzazate?

For desert tourism, cinema, low entry prices and a tourism recovery plan announced in 2025.

Can a foreigner buy a kasbah in Morocco?

Yes, if the land is not agricultural or with an authorisation. Check the title, often melkia, and the water rights.

Is Skoura suited to a guest house?

Yes. The palm grove attracts a high-end clientele looking for calm and authenticity, about 40 km from Ouarzazate.

How long does it take from Marrakech to Ouarzazate?

About four hours by the Tichka road. Ouarzazate airport also has a few connections.

Sources: Ministry of Culture, via La Vie éco (2025 film shoots); Medias24 (Ouarzazate tourism plan, October 2025); UNESCO. Indicative information.

Dreaming of a kasbah or a lodge in the south? Let’s talk about your project and the off-market properties available. Book a consultation