Nador: Marchica Med plans 585 million dirham DoubleTree resort on lagoon

A high-end hotel complex worth more than 585 million dirhams, land included, will rise on the Marchica lagoon in Nador and is due to open in 2029, Marchica Med said in a statement.

The development will count 280 accommodation units in all: a five-star DoubleTree by Hilton hotel with 120 rooms, plus 160 luxury apartments.

Partnership with HenriPay

Marchica Med said the project grows out of a partnership agreement it signed with HenriPay Holding N.V., described in the statement as a Dutch-German group.

The complex will be built in the city of Atalayoun, which Marchica Med presents as the first tourist and golf resort on the lagoon. Work on Atalayoun began in 2012, part of the wider strategic programme to develop the site.

The company said the new hotel would mark a promising step in turning Atalayoun into a leading tourist destination on the lagoon shore, in Nador province and across the Oriental region.

Conference rooms, pools and underground parking

Beyond its rooms and apartments, the resort is set to include conference rooms, restaurants, wellness areas, swimming pools, leisure and relaxation spaces, and underground car parks.

Marchica Med said particular attention was given to fitting the buildings into the surrounding landscape, so that architecture, vegetation and water remain closely connected.

Jobs during construction and operation

The construction phase should bring work and business to local and regional companies, suppliers and service providers, according to the statement.

Once operating, the complex is expected to generate a significant number of direct and indirect jobs in hospitality, catering, maintenance, transport, purchasing and related services.

Marchica Med tied the project to broader changes under way in the region, pointing to the recent start of operations at the Nador West Med port and industrial complex, which it called a catalyst for regional economic competitiveness.