Morocco registered 60,908 new companies in the commercial register in the first seven months of 2026, according to figures from the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC) reported in early October. Three out of four were legal entities, and the Casablanca-Settat region again led the country.
Key facts: new business registrations in Morocco
- Total: 60,908 registrations between January and July 2026.
- Legal entities: 45,898 (75%). Natural persons: 15,010 (25%).
- First half: OMPIC counted 51,805 new companies by the end of June, so about 9,100 were added in July alone.
- Trade name certificates: 77,883 negative certificates were issued in the seven-month period, a sign of how many founders reserve a name before launching.
Which sectors attract new Moroccan businesses?
Among new legal entities, trade came first with 27.22%, followed closely by construction and real estate at 25.28%. Various services represented 20.03%, transport 7.63% and industry 6.3%.
The single-member limited liability company (SARL AU) remains the favourite structure, chosen by around 65% of new legal entities, while the classic SARL accounts for 33.9%. The SARL AU lets one founder start a company with limited liability, which explains its popularity with young entrepreneurs and freelancers moving into formal business.
Where are companies being created in Morocco?
Business creation stays concentrated in a few economic hubs. Casablanca-Settat took 39.3% of new legal entities, followed by Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (14.5%), Marrakech-Safi (12.3%) and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (10.8%). Together, these four regions account for 76.9% of the total.
The picture is different for businesses registered by natural persons: Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima ranks first with 20.6%, ahead of Casablanca-Settat (13.2%) and Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (10.7%).
Why it matters for the Moroccan economy
New company registrations are one of the simplest indicators of entrepreneurial activity. The strong weight of trade, construction and services reflects domestic demand, while growing sectors such as tourism and renewable energy continue to create opportunities. Our recent reports on Morocco’s 15.7 million tourist arrivals and the Masen 350 MW solar tender show where much of that business momentum is coming from.
OMPIC’s figures cover registrations only and do not say how many companies close or stay active, and the sources reviewed do not give a year-on-year comparison for the seven-month period.
Sources: Morocco World News; TelQuel; OMPIC data.
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