About the city

The city was formerly known as “Hlala”, a yellow-flowered plant that covered most of its land before it was built up. Kénitra was founded around 120 years ago and flourished when the port was built on the banks of the Sebou by the French Resident-General, Marshal Lyautey, during the Protectorate. The site’s history, however, goes back much further: the Kasbah of Mehdia, built in the 6th century BC by Hanno the Carthaginian at the mouth of the Sebou on the Atlantic Ocean, 12 kilometres from Kénitra, stands on a rocky slope and its ramparts are still visible today.

Kénitra is also a key gateway to Morocco’s most important industrial, service and population corridor, the Kénitra – El Jadida axis. Because of this position, the city has always attracted academic researchers and students from universities and specialised institutes, who have produced many valuable studies on every aspect of its economic, social, cultural and demographic life.