Rabat Introduction

Rabat, the name is derived from Arabic, its meaning is interpreted differently. A saying is that "Rabat" means "bundling." It’s amazing why the capital of a country has such a name? Tracing to its source, the original story is this: a long time ago, Rabat was just a small village on the Bank of the Atlantic Ocean; the King at the time tied up captured prisoners and war criminals with ropes, ordered the soldiers to escort them here to engage in heavy labor. With more and more people sent here, the village gradually expanded, resulting in the formation of the city, resulting in a strange name of the city- Rabat.

Another saying is that in 1150, the ruler of the Almohad Dynasty of Morocco, Abd al-Mu'min, with the purpose of sending troops to Algeria, Tunisia and, crossing the sea to Spain. He established a fortress near the ruins of the coastal city of ancient Rome-Salé, naming it "Ribatu l-Fath." This military fortress is La Kasbah des Oudaïa, also known as the fortress of Oudaïa which still exists today. In Arabic, "Ribatu l-Fath" means "victorious barracks,” which is said to be in memory of that year’s victory of the Arab forces in the battle with the Spanish troops. Later, with the changes of the times and the vicissitudes of life, "Ribatu l-Fath" gradually expanded into a grand-scale city, but it still used the old name, Ribat for short, over time, Ribat evolved into Rabat, and is the city name in use today.

The earliest inhabitants were the Tuareg people. In the 7th century, Arabs entered and in the 8th century established the first Arab Kingdom. In 1660, the Allawi Dynasty was established. King Mohammed VI is the 23rd and current emperor of the dynasty. From the 15th century, the Western powers invaded and on March 30th, 1912, it became a French colony. In the same year, France and Spain signed the Treaty of Madrid, thus areas including the northern part of Morroco and southern Ifni were designated as a Spanish colony. Rabat got its independence on March 2, 1956. On August 14, 1957, the country’s name is set as the kingdom of Morocco, sultan was renamed as king. In February 1961, King Mohammed V died. In March, King Hassan II ascended the throne. On July 23, 1999, King Hassan II died of illness, crown prince Sidi Mohammed ascended the throne on the same day. On July 30, he formally ascended the throne and was named Mohammed VI.

Rabat is a cultural city with a rich history. Its streets and public squares are full of masterpieces. Pay a visit to the Kasbah of the Udayas, whose grand, majestic silhouette is softened by the surrounding gardens. Not far beyond its walls lies the Chellah, a necropolis that dates to the Marinids. Entering the complex is like journeying to another world: marvel at the ancient remains as you walk through the gardens and glimpse a few storks.

Rabat is also a modern, environmentally responsible capital that takes pride in its green spaces. It is punctuated by parks, such as the Botanical Test Gardens and the Bouknadel Exotic Gardens just a few miles from the city. Rabat also has a well-developed ocean front. There are miles of improved beaches that run along the Atlantic coast all the way to the neighboring Casablanca.

The city's modern flair is also evident in its infrastructure and festivals, which guarantee a comfortable, entertaining stay in the capital. All the modern conveniences, from airports and tramways to shopping malls, cafes and restaurants, are at your fingertips. Finally, Rabat celebrates music like no other city: Mawazine, Jazz at the Chellah and other festivals fill the air with joyful sounds and rhythms from around the world!

These all add to the appeal of Rabat, where the treasures of the past coexist with the most modern and eco-friendly achievements.

Climate

Rabat belongs to subtropical area in Northwest Africa, with hot and dry summer, while winters are mild and humid. But the northern coast is influenced by the Mediterranean, which is basically the Mediterranean climate with mild seasons; the West and Northwest coasts are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. January average temperature is 12 °C, the average temperature of April is 20 °C, and average temperature of July 22-28 °C. The Atlas Mountains has more rain and snow, and the south belongs to the Sahara desert where the climate is hot with little rain. From the north to the middle, the annual average rainfall is 800-200 mm.

Public holidays

January 1st: New Year's Day

February 8th:Mawlid

May 1st: International Labor Day

August 14th:Loyalty Day

August 18th: Lesser Bairam

August 20th: Remembrance Day of the king and the people's revolution

August 21st: The king's birthday

October 24th: Eid al-Adha

November 6th: Anniversary of the Green March

November 14th: Islamic New Year

November 18th: Independence Day

For more details, please visit: http://www.visitmorocco.com/en/travel/rabat