View source for Oujda

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Oujda
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = {{lang|ar|وجدة}}
| native_name_lang   = ar
| image_skyline      = Oujda.mosque et mairie.jpg
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Morocco|City]]
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Oujda.png
| image_map          = 
| mapsize            = 200px
| map_caption        = Location of Oujda in [[Morocco]]
| pushpin_map        = Morocco#Africa
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_mapsize    = 300
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|41|12|N|01|54|41|W|region:MA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Morocco}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Morocco|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Oriental (Morocco)|Oriental]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Prefectures and provinces of Morocco|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Oujda-Angad Prefecture]]
| established_title  = First settled
| established_date   = 
| established_title2 = Modern city
| established_date2  = 994
| established_date3  = 
| elevation_m        = 470
| elevation_ft       = 
| population_total   = 506224
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro   = 610000
| population_footnotes = <ref name="census">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Population légale du Royaume du Maroc répartie par régions, provinces et préfectures et communes selon les résultats du Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat 2024 |url=https://www.hcp.ma/Population-legale-du-Royaume-du-Maroc-repartie-par-regions-provinces-et-prefectures-et-communes-selon-les-resultats-du_a3974.html |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=Site institutionnel du Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Royaume du Maroc |language=fr}}</ref>
| population_rank    = [[List of cities in Morocco|8th in Morocco]]
| area_total_km2     = 96.4
| old_name           = 
| ethnicity          = 
| demographics_type1 = [[Gross domestic product|GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)]]
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = Year
| demographics1_info1 = 2024
| demographics1_title2 = Total (Metro)
| demographics1_info2 = $7.5&nbsp;billion<ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web |title=TelluBase—Morocco Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series) |url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase-factsheet-mar.pdf |publisher=Tellusant |access-date=2025-07-11}}</ref>
| demographics1_title3 = Per capita
| demographics1_info3 = $12,300
| timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset         = +1
}}
'''Oujda''' ({{langx|ar|وجدة|wajda}}, {{IPA|ar|ˈwa(d)ʒda|pron}}) is a major city in northeast [[Morocco]] near the [[Algeria–Morocco border|border]] with [[Algeria]]. Oujda is the capital city of the [[Oriental (Morocco)|Oriental]] region of northeastern Morocco and has a population of 506,224 people (2024 census).<ref name="census"/> It is located about {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=off}} west of the [[Algeria–Morocco border|Moroccan-Algerian border]] in the south of the [[Iznasen|Beni Iznassen]] Mountains and about {{convert|55|km|0|abbr=in}} south of the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast.

== History ==
[[File:Oujda.medina. tour de control.jpg|thumb|Ancient mirador]]
=== Origins ===
There is some evidence of a settlement during the Roman occupation, which seems to have been under the control of [[Berbers]] rather than Romans.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oypmAAAAMAAJ |title=L'image de la Tingitane: l'historiographie arabe médiévale et l'antiquité nord-africaine |trans-title=The image of Tingitana: medieval Arab historiography and North African antiquity |last=Siraj|first=Ahmed |date=1995-01-01 |publisher=Boccard |isbn=9782728303175 |pages=589–595 |language=fr}}</ref>

The city was founded in 994 by [[Ziri ibn Atiyya]], Berber chief of the [[Zenata]] [[Maghrawa]] tribe. Ziri was, with his tribe, authorized to occupy the region of Fas, but feeling insecure in that region and that town, and wishing to be nearer to the central Maghrib homeland of his tribe, he moved to Oujda, installed there a garrison and his possessions, appointing one of his relatives as governor.<ref name="EI2" />

=== 11th to 19th centuries ===
In the mid-11th century, a new quarter with a wall was allegedly added to the primitive core. [[Yusuf ibn Tashfin]] occupied the city in 1079, and in the next century, it came under [[Almohad Caliphate|Almohad]] control, with its fortifications repaired and strengthened under the Almohad caliph [[Muhammad al-Nasir]].<ref name="EI2">{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2002|title=Wad̲j̲da|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|url=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/wadjda-COM_1325|publication-place=Leiden, Netherlands|edition=2nd|volume=XI|pages=23–24|isbn=9004081143|last1=Marçais|first1=G.|last2=Troin|first2=J.F.|editor1-link=Peri Bearman|editor3-link=Clifford Edmund Bosworth|editor5-link=Wolfhart Heinrichs|editor1-last=Bearman|editor1-first=P.|editor2-last=Bianquis|editor2-first=Th.|editor3-last=Bosworth|editor3-first=C.E.|editor4-last=van Donzel|editor4-first=E.|editor5-last=Heinrichs|editor5-first=W.P.}}</ref>

Oujda played an important strategic role between the [[Marinid Sultanate|Marinids]], based in [[Fes]], and the [[Abdalwadid]]s of the [[Kingdom of Tlemcen]].<ref name="EI2" /> The Marinid sultan [[Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd al-Haqq|Abu Yusuf Yaqub]] destroyed the city when he defeated Sultan [[Yaghmurasen Ibn Zyan|Yaghmorasan]] in 1271. When his successor [[Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr|Abu Yaqub Yusuf]] conquered the city again in 1296, he destroyed the remaining fortifications but then rebuilt the town with the new walls, a palace, and a [[Grand Mosque of Oujda|Great Mosque]] (the current one). The town continued to change hands, however. Around 1325, Sultan [[Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Othman|Abu al-Hasan]] took the city again during a series of campaigns which extended Marinid control into the central Maghreb for a brief period.<ref name="EI2" />

Because of its frontier position, the city was frequently contested between the [[Sharifism|Sharifian]] dynasties of Morocco – the [[Saadi Sultanate|Saadis]], followed by the [['Alawi dynasty|Alaouites]] – to the west and the [[Ottoman Empire]] to the east, from the 16th century onward.<ref name="EI2" /> It was often attached to the province or region of Tlemcen, which itself also changed hands several times in this period. During the long reign of [[Ismail Ibn Sharif|Moulay Isma'il]] (1672–1727), Oujda was firmly under Alaouite control and defended by new fortifications and garrisons built by the sultan. After Isma'il's death, however, political instability returned. It was only in 1795 that the city was retaken by the Alaouite empire and permanently incorporated into Morocco.<ref name="EI2" />

The French occupied it in 1844 and again in 1859. To the west of the city is the site of the [[Battle of Isly]] which occurred in 1844. In 1907-1908, Oujda was reconquered by General Bugeaud and Marshal [[Hubert Lyautey|Lyautey]] and used as a French military base to control eastern Morocco. The modern city owes much of its present form to the French, who developed along the roads built at that time.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

=== 20th century and present day ===
[[File:Oujda Rue du marché.JPG|thumb|Arab [[bazaar]] from Oujda, 1920]]
[[1948 Anti-Jewish Riots in Oujda and Jerada|Anti-Jewish riots]] occurred in Oujda June 1948, during the [[1948 Palestine war]] in the aftermath of [[Declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel|the establishment]] of the [[State of israel|State of Israel]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Gottreich |first=Emily |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781838603601 |title=Jewish Morocco |date=2020 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |isbn=978-1-78076-849-6 |pages=10 |doi=10.5040/9781838603601 |s2cid=213996367}}</ref>{{Rp|page=151}} Oujda, located near the border, was a departure point for [[Moroccan Jews]] seeking to reach Israel by crossing into [[French Algeria]]; at the time they were not permitted to do so from within Morocco.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=151}} In the events, 47 [[Jews]] and a [[French people|French person]] were killed, many were injured, and property was damaged.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=151}}

The [[1953 Oujda revolt]] took place during [[Thami El Glaoui|Thami El Glaoui's]] attempted coup against Sultan [[Mohammed V of Morocco|Muhammad V]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1954-11-30 |title=Quatre-vingt-seize Marocains poursuivis pour participation à la « tuerie d'Oujda », qui fit trente morts le 16 août 1953, passent en jugement |trans-title=Ninety-six Moroccans prosecuted for participation in the “Oujda massacre”, which left thirty dead on August 16, 1953, go on trial |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1954/11/30/quatre-vingt-seize-marocains-poursuivis-pour-participation-a-la-tuerie-qui-fit-le-16-aout-1953-trente-morts-a-oujda-passent-en-jugement_2026822_1819218.html |access-date=2022-09-28}}</ref>

In 1954, from the beginning of the [[Algerian Independence War]], Morocco allowed Oujda to become the logistic center of the [[Oujda Group]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The Moroccan border with Algeria is just east of Oujda; on the other side of the border is the Algerian town of [[Maghnia]]. The border has been closed since 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-04 |title=Letter from Africa: Lamenting the Algeria-Morocco border closure |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57467644 |access-date=2023-01-21}}</ref> 

In 2010, Rod Solaimani chronicled his trip to Oujda for [[MTV]].

==Geography==
The city is located {{convert|60|km|0|abbr=on}} south of the Mediterranean sea and {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} west of Algeria, with an estimated altitude of {{convert|450|m|0|abbr=off}}.

{{convert|5|km|0|abbr=on}} south from city centre, is [[Jbel Hamra]], a typical [[Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub|Mediterranean forest]] and into the east of this forest is [[:fr:Parc Sidi Mâafa|Sidi Maafa park]].

Oujda is located in the south of [[Beni Znassen]] mountains.

===Climate===
The city has a [[cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BSk''). Rainfall is between {{convert|300|mm|1|abbr=on}} and {{convert|500|mm|1|abbr=on}} per year. It rarely snows in winter; last snowfall was on 5 February 2012. Weather in Oujda is cool but still tepid and wet in winter, hot and dry in summer.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Oujda ([[Oujda Airport]]) 1991–2020, extremes 1910–present
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 27.9
|Feb record high C = 33.1
|Mar record high C = 35.4
|Apr record high C = 39.5
|May record high C = 41.6
|Jun record high C = 44.0
|Jul record high C = 47.3
|Aug record high C = 46.7
|Sep record high C = 42.8
|Oct record high C = 39.4
|Nov record high C = 32.6
|Dec record high C = 31.0
|year record high C = 47.3
|Jan high C = 16.6
|Feb high C = 17.5
|Mar high C = 20.1
|Apr high C = 22.4
|May high C = 26.1
|Jun high C = 30.5
|Jul high C = 34.5
|Aug high C = 34.8
|Sep high C = 30.2
|Oct high C = 26.3
|Nov high C = 20.5
|Dec high C = 17.5
|year high C = 24.8
|Jan mean C = 10.4
|Feb mean C = 11.3
|Mar mean C = 13.5
|Apr mean C = 15.6
|May mean C = 19.0
|Jun mean C = 23.0
|Jul mean C = 26.6
|Aug mean C = 27.1
|Sep mean C = 23.2
|Oct mean C = 19.6
|Nov mean C = 14.5
|Dec mean C = 11.6
|year mean C = 17.9
|Jan low C = 4.3
|Feb low C = 5.0
|Mar low C = 6.9
|Apr low C = 8.7
|May low C = 11.7
|Jun low C = 15.4
|Jul low C = 18.7
|Aug low C = 19.4
|Sep low C = 16.3
|Oct low C = 12.9
|Nov low C = 8.6
|Dec low C = 5.7
|year low C = 11.1
|Jan record low C = -7.1
|Feb record low C = -4.0
|Mar record low C = -5.0
|Apr record low C = -2.4
|May record low C = 0.0
|Jun record low C = 4.0
|Jul record low C = 6.0
|Aug record low C = 7.0
|Sep record low C = 5.0
|Oct record low C = 0.0
|Nov record low C = -0.4
|Dec record low C = -6.0
|year record low C = -7.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 31.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 29.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 34.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 32.7
|May precipitation mm = 24.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 5.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 1.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 6.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 18.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 27.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 34.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 25.4
|year precipitation mm = 270.8
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 4.8
|Feb precipitation days = 4.3
|Mar precipitation days = 4.5
|Apr precipitation days = 4.7
|May precipitation days = 3.2
|Jun precipitation days = 1.0
|Jul precipitation days = 0.4
|Aug precipitation days = 1.2
|Sep precipitation days = 2.4
|Oct precipitation days = 3.8
|Nov precipitation days = 4.6
|Dec precipitation days = 4.3
|year precipitation days = 39.2
|time day = 6:00 am
|Jan humidity = 83
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 84
|Apr humidity = 87
|May humidity = 86
|Jun humidity = 83
|Jul humidity = 76
|Aug humidity = 77
|Sep humidity = 81
|Oct humidity = 85
|Nov humidity = 82
|Dec humidity = 83
|year humidity = 82
|Jan sun = 197.5
|Feb sun = 189.9
|Mar sun = 229.0
|Apr sun = 249.5
|May sun = 284.6
|Jun sun = 312.4
|Jul sun = 333.3
|Aug sun = 314.1
|Sep sun = 255.0
|Oct sun = 227.6
|Nov sun = 193.6
|Dec sun = 188.1
|year sun = 2974.6
|source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] (sun 1981–2010)<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231007230912/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Morocco/CSV/OUJDA_60115.csv
| archive-date = 7 October 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Morocco/CSV/OUJDA_60115.csv
| title = Oujda Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 7 October 2023}}</ref><ref name=WMOCLINOOld>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211111000115/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-I/Morocco/WMO_Normals_ASCII_60115.csv
| archive-date = 11 November 2021
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-I/Morocco/WMO_Normals_ASCII_60115.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1981–2010
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 10 November 2021}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity, 1947–1976),<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_601150_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Oujda / Marokko
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 14 October 2016}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web 
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=755
| title = Station Oujda
| publisher = Météo Climat 
| language = fr 
| access-date = 14 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=60115&ano=2021&mes=7&day=12&hora=0&min=0&ndays=30 |title=60115: Oujda (Morocco) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 11 July 2021|website=ogimet.com |publisher=[[OGIMET]] |access-date= 11 July 2021|quote=}}</ref>
|date=November 2014

}}

==Architecture==
[[File:Oujda.eglise.JPG|200px|thumb|Oujda Church]]
[[File:Oujda centre1.jpg|200px|thumb|Oujda, Bd Mohamed V]]
The main characteristic of the city is having the old city in the centre. The old city maintains traditional features of the Moroccan architecture with its narrow, winding alleys which lead to the houses and markets such as the jewelry market and the leather market. The [[Grand Mosque of Oujda]] is one of its historically most important mosques.

Bled el Gaada is a [[Roman Empire|Roman era]] ruins just outside of [[Ouijda, Morocco|Ouijda]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} The ruins consist of a Roman fort measuring {{convert|175|by|210|m}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=MacKendrick |first=Paul Lachlan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rH26vL2CWbkC&dq=Bled+el+Gaada+roman&pg=PA312 |title=The North African Stones Speak |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8078-4942-2 |page=312 |language=en}}</ref>

==Music==
[[Gharnati music|Gharnati]] refers to a variety of [[Andalusi music]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shannon |first=Jonathan Holt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=67PdCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA47 |title=Performing al-Andalus: Music and Nostalgia across the Mediterranean |date=2015-07-28 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-01774-1 |pages=47–48 |language=en}}</ref> named after the city of [[Granada]]. Its traditional center in North Africa is [[Tlemcen]] in western Algeria, but in the 20th century it also spread to Morocco, with Oujda being one of its main Moroccan centers.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia =The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians |date=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-517067-2 |editor-last=Sadie |editor-first=Stanley |edition=2nd |editor-last2=Tyrrell |editor-first2=John |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.42951 |title=Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of}}</ref> Each year, the city hosts an International Festival of Gharnati Music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chellay |first=Mohammed |date=18 May 2025 |title=Oujda: top départ pour le 31ème Festival de la musique gharnatie |url=https://fr.le360.ma/culture/oujda-top-depart-pour-le-31eme-festival-de-la-musique-gharnatie_SAJ2UV6LZRG2ZKXNNZDF5XTSYQ/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Le 360 Français |language=fr}}</ref>

[[Reggada]] Music is a major traditional music movement. Its a Moroccan Amazigh ancient musical genre and traditional war dance from the Beni Znassen/Aït Iznasen tribes of north-east Morocco (Provinces of Oujda, Berkane and Taourirt), more precisely coming from the village called Ain-Reggada. This dance used to celebrate and emulate victory of a battle. This music has now become part of the global music sphere.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-01 |title=Diving in the Traditional Moroccan Music |website=Mozarkech |url=https://www.mozarkech.com/diving-in-the-traditional-moroccan-music/ |access-date=2024-09-06|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Subdivisions==
The province is divided administratively into the following:<ref name="Pop">{{cite web|url=http://www.lavieeco.com/documents_officiels/Recensement%20population.pdf |title=Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat de 2004 |publisher=Haut-commissariat au Plan, Lavieeco.com |access-date=27 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724191316/http://www.lavieeco.com/documents_officiels/Recensement%20population.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2012 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Geographic code !! Type !! Households !! Population (2004)!! Foreign population !! Moroccan population !! Notes
|-
| [[Bni Drar]] || 411.01.11. || Municipality || 1648 || 8919 || 57 || 8862 ||
|-
| [[Naïma]]|| 411.01.19. || Municipality || 218 || 1151 || 0 || 1151 ||
|-
| Oujda || 411.01.23. || Municipality || 82128 || 400738 || 2700 || 398038 ||
|-
| [[Ahl Angad]]|| 411.07.01. || Rural commune || 2897 || 16494 || 113 || 16381 ||
|-
| [[Ain Sfa]]|| 411.07.03. || Rural commune || 837 || 5082 || 5 || 5077 ||
|-
| [[Bni Khaled]]|| 411.07.05. || Rural commune || 1231 || 7104 || 30 || 7074 ||
|-
| [[Bsara]]|| 411.07.07. || Rural commune || 317 || 1922 || 1 || 1921 ||
|-
| [[Isly]]|| 411.07.09. || Rural commune || 4262 || 23896 || 24 || 23872 ||
|-
| [[Mestferki]]|| 411.07.11. || Rural commune || 797 || 4832 || 0 || 4832 ||
|-
| [[Sidi Boulenouar]]|| 411.07.17. || Rural commune || 516 || 3526 || 0 || 3526 ||
|-
| [[Sidi Moussa Lemhaya]]|| 411.07.19. || Rural commune || 563 || 3436 || 0 || 3436 ||
|-
|}

==Transport==
Tourists aiming at Saïdia, bordering the Mediterranean, transit to Oujda's airport. The city is served by [[Angads Airport]], which has connecting international flights to Lisbon, Brussels, Madrid, Marseille or Paris for example, as well as domestic flights to Casablanca.

The city is the endpoint of the main railroad from [[Casablanca]] via [[Fes]] and Taourirt before the border with [[Transport in Algeria|Algeria]]. There are several day and night trains to and from the city, linking it to the western part of the country. 

The [[Oriental Desert Express]] was originally built in the 1920s and 1930s as part of the [[Mediterranean–Niger Railway]]. One of its cars, the historical "prince's wagon" passenger car runs now twice annually. Outside camera shots of the Oriental Desert Express were featured in the 2015 James Bond film [[Spectre (2015 film)|''Spectre'']].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2017 |title=Morocco tourists make tracks on 007's 'desert express' |url=https://www.dw.com/en/bonds-desert-express-for-morocco-tourists/a-40604541 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Economy==
Oujda has a strategic importance because of its location on the border. There are many economic and natural resources, however, the city struggles historically with an unemployment rate higher than the national average, standing on average at 20% compared to the 10.3% national average.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oujda |url=https://www.climamed.eu/project/our-countries/morocco/oujda/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Clima-Med |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Morocco Unemployment Rate |url=https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/morocco/unemployment-rate |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=ceicdata.com}}</ref>

Oujda relies heavily on trading given its location near the borders of Algeria. The economy of the city is directly related to the border's condition as it represents a passage for businesses directed towards [[Fes, Morocco|Fes]] in the west, Talmasan in the east, [[Figuig]] in the south and [[Melilla]] in the north.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MobiliseYourCity Global Monitor |date=20 October 2021 |title=MobiliseYourCity Global Monitor Fact Sheet: Oujda, Morocco |url=https://www.mobiliseyourcity.net/sites/default/files/2021-10/Oujda%2C%20Morocco.pdf |website=MobiliseYourCity.net}}</ref> 

On 18 March 2003, King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Mohammed VI]] indicated the importance of reviving the economy of the Eastern regions of Morocco. As a result of this effort, [[Technopole]] Oujda was established and the region witnessed road improvement, airport expansion and other projects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Projet - Medz Support {{!}} MEDZ |url=https://www.medz.ma/en/projet/technopole-doujda |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=medz.ma}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Third Airport Project Appraisal Report for the Kingdom of Morocco |publisher=African Development Bank Group |language=French}}</ref>

==Sport==

The sports infrastructure in Oujda is composed of a municipal stadium, an Olympic venue, the [[Honneur Stadium]] of Oujda, built in 1976, the sports complex 'Rock' including a [[Rugby football|rugby]] stadium, a complex [[tennis]] in the park Lala Aicha, a [[golf]] course and two sports halls.

===Football===
In 1957, [[MC Oujda]] (MCO) became the first football club to win the Throne Cup of Morocco, defeating the [[Wydad Casablanca|Wydad of Casablanca]], a feat the club repeated the following year. In 1959, in its third successive appearance in the final, the club lost against [[FAR Rabat|FAR]] of Rabat. However, in MC Oujda's fourth successive final, the club defeated [[FUS Rabat]]. In 1962 MCO won its last Throne cup against the [[KAC Marrakech|Kawkab Athletic Club of Marrakech]].<ref>[http://www.frmf.ma/competitions/coupe-du-trone/palmares.html Winners of the Throne Cup of Morocco] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213060719/http://www.frmf.ma/competitions/coupe-du-trone/palmares.html |date=13 December 2012 }}</ref>

After ten years, [[MC Oujda]] came back to win in 1972 the Maghreb Cup,{{Citation needed|date=December 2012}} three years after it won [[Botola|The Botola Pro]] of Morocco.<ref>[http://www.frmf.ma/competitions/botola-pro/championnats-delite.html Winners of the football League of Morocco]</ref>

[[US Musulmane d'Oujda]], is another football club in Oujda.

== Notable people ==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the lists in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->

=== Arts and cinema ===
*[[Hafid Bouazza]] – Writer
*[[Hamid Bouchnak]] – Moroccan [[raï]] singer and songwriter
*[[Nathalie Delon]] – Actress and director
*[[Douzi]] – Singer and songwriter
*[[Les Freres Megri]] – Rock band very popular in the Arab world, composers and producers.
*[[Philippe Faucon]] – Filmmaker
*[[Fouad Laroui]] – Writer and economist
*[[Michel Qissi]] – Actor
*[[Mimoun El Oujdi]] – Raï singer
*[[Younes Megri]] – Actor, singer author of 'Leli Touil' sung by Maria de Rossi & Boney M.
*[[Abdelkrim Derkaoui]] – Cinematographer, film director and screenwriter
*[[Bassouar Al Maghnaoui]] – Singer
*[[Simon Basinger]] – Musicologist, essayist, producer and author.
*[[Charlotte Slovack]] – Filmmaker
*[[Serge Guirao]] – Singer

=== Sports ===
*[[Adil Belgaid]] – Olympic judo fighter (3 times World Champion, 6 times African Champion, 3 times Arab Champion, 3 times Olympian)
*[[Abdelatif Benazzi]] – Rugby player
*[[Philippe Casado]] – Cyclist
*[[Abdelkarim Kissi]] – Footballer
*[[Soufiane Kourdou]] – Professional basketball player
*[[Moha Rharsalla]] – Footballer
*[[Mohammed Qissi]] – Actor (Kickboxer, Bloodsport with Jean Claude Vandamme)
*[[Mohcin Cheaouri]] – Track and Field athlete, 2 times African champion
*[[Yahya Berrabah]] – Olympic athlete, African champion in long jump
*[[Daniel Sanchez (French footballer)|Daniel Sanchez]] – Footballer
*[[Gilles Simon (Formula One)|Gilles Simon]] – Formula 1
*[[Ahmed Belkedroussi]] – Football manager
*[[Khadfi Rharsallah]] – Footballer
*[[Marianne Agulhon]] – Slalom canoeist
*[[Mohammed Berrabeh]] – International footballer
*[[Hassan Alla]] – Footballer
*[[Mohammed Ben Brahim]] – Footballer
*[[Khalid Chalqi]] – Footballer
*[[Gerard Soler]] – Football midfielder
*[[Khalid Lebji]] – Football midfielder
*[[Abou El Kacem Hadji]] – Footballer
*[[Ryad El Alami]] – Footballer
*[[Abdelah Kafifi]] – Footballer
*[[Mohamed Atmani]] – Boxer (Summer Olympics)
*[[Soufiane Kourdou]] – Basketball player
*[[Houssam Amaanan]] – Footballer
*[[Habib Allah Dahmani]] – Footballer

=== Politicians ===
*[[Ahmed Osman (politician)|Ahmed Osman]] – Former Prime Minister, married King Hassan II's sister, Lalla Nuzha of Morocco
*[[Zoulikha Nasri]] – Advisor to King Mohammed IV, MD of foundation 'Mohammed V for Solidarity'
*[[Muhammad Ben Abdessalam Al Muqri]] – Late 19th senior official, advisor and grand vizier to several sultans.
*[[Abdelkader Lecheheb]] – Football player and Ambassador to Russia
*[[Mohamed Allal Sinaceur]] – Former Minister of Cultural Affairs
*[[Mohamed Habib Sinaceur]] – Politician
*[[Ahmed Toufiq Hejira]] – Former Minister of Housing and Urbanism
*[[Kaddour El Ouartassi]] – Historian
*[[Najima Rhozali]] – Politician, professor
*[[Yvette Katan Bensamoun]] – Historian
*[[Omar Benjelloun]] – Journalist
*[[Abdelaziz Bouteflika]] – (1937–2021), 5th [[President of Algeria]]
*[[Abdelnour Abbrous]] – Politician
*[[Chakib Khelil]] – Politician
*[[Hassnae Bouazza]] – Journalist, writer, columnist
*[[Louisette Ighilariz]] – Politician

=== Business ===
*[[Maurice Lévy (Publicis)|Maurice Levy]] – French businessman, Chairman of [[Publicis]] Group.

== Town twinning ==
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Trowbridge]], UK, (2009)<ref name="Trowbridge twinnings">{{cite news |date=2006-10-03 |title=Trowbridge - Market town twins with Arab city |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC News Channel |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/5401592.stm |access-date=2013-08-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021084445/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/5401592.stm |archive-date=2007-10-21}}</ref> Trowbridge has the largest Moroccan community in the UK outside London, and is the first UK town to be twinned with a place from a Muslim country. At the time, Trowbridge had approximately 80 resident families who had roots in Oujda.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trowbridge plans Moroccan link-up |url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7417417.trowbridge-plans-moroccan-link-up/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald |language=en}}</ref> 
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Lille]], France
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sevran]], France
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jouy-le-Moutier]], France
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Aix-en-Provence]], France (2007)
*{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Jeddah]], Saudi Arabia
*{{flagicon|PSE}} [[Al-Quds]], Palestine 
*{{flagicon|LBY}} [[Sirte]], Libya
*{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Oran]], Algeria
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Molenbeek-Saint-Jean]], Belgium

== See also ==
* [[Oujda group]] – an [[Algeria]]n political faction named after the town
* [[1948 anti-Jewish riots in Oujda and Jerada|Oujda Pogrom (1948)]] 
* [[Capture of Oujda (1647)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170522213300/http://oujdaportail.net/ Oujda Portal]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150328040318/http://www.oujdays.com/ Oujdays] 100% Oujda
* [http://oujda-maroc.com Oujda and its region]
* [http://lexicorient.com/morocco/oujda.htm Entry in Lexicorient] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331182856/http://lexicorient.com/morocco/oujda.htm |date=31 March 2009 }}
* [http://www.oujdacity.net OujdaCity.net]

{{Oujda-Angad Prefecture}}
{{Oriental (Morocco)}}
{{Prefectures and provinces of Morocco}}
{{Arab Capital of Culture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Oujda| ]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Morocco]]
[[Category:Prefectural capitals in Morocco]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Morocco]]
[[Category:994 establishments]]
[[Category:10th-century establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 10th century]]