Rabat
Capital of Morocco, founded by Almohads in the 12th century.
Rabat, Morocco’s capital, sits on the country’s northwestern Atlantic coast. It ranks as the seventh-largest city in Morocco, with a population of 515,619 as of 2024, and its metropolitan area—the second largest after Casablanca’s—holds about 2.1 million people (2025 estimate). The city also serves as the capital of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra administrative region. It lies at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River, directly across from Salé, its main commuter town.
The Almohads founded Rabat in the 12th century. After an initial period of growth, the city declined. In the 1600s, it became a refuge for Barbary corsairs. When France established a protectorate over Morocco in 1912, Rabat was made the administrative center, and it became the national capital when Morocco gained independence in 1956.
Rabat is one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, and its medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travelers can reach it by train via the ONCF network or by plane through Rabat–Salé Airport.
The name “Rabat” comes from the Arabic *al-ribāṭ*, meaning a ribat—an Islamic base or fortification. It is short for *Ribāṭu al-Fatḥ* (“the ribat of conquest” or “stronghold of victory”), a title the Almohads gave when they established the city as a naval base in 1170.
Quick Facts
- Official Name
- Rabat
- Native Name
- ar · الرباط / zgh · ⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ
- Leader Party
- RNI
- Leader Title
- Mayor
- Leader Name
- Fatiha El Moudni
- Area Total Sq Mi
- 45.17
- Population As Of
- 2024
- Population Total
- 515619
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Rabat was founded in the 12th century by the Almohads, who built a kasbah and later began a grand imperial capital called Ribat al-Fath, though it remained unfinished. After a period of decline, the city became a haven for Barbary corsairs in the 17th century, when Morisco refugees from Spain settled there and formed the Republic of Bou Regreg with neighboring Salé. The 'Alawi dynasty later took control, allowing piracy to continue until the early 19th century, and built royal palaces and expanded the city walls.
Reader's Guide
Rabat's significance lies in its role as Morocco's political capital and its layered history as a Roman outpost, Almohad imperial project, corsair republic, and French administrative center. Its medina, a World Heritage Site, preserves the Andalusian Wall and the Kasbah of the Udayas, while the Hassan Tower remains from the unfinished Almohad mosque. The city is accessible by train via the ONCF system and by plane through Rabat–Salé Airport. As the second largest metropolitan area after Casablanca, Rabat continues to function as the nation's administrative and cultural hub, with its name derived from the Arabic word for a fortified monastery or ribat.
Did You Know?
- The name Rabat comes from the Arabic word 'ribat', meaning an Islamic base or fortification.
- Rabat was founded in the 12th century by the Almohads and was originally called Ribat al-Fath, meaning 'stronghold of victory'.
- In the 17th century, Rabat and Salé united to form the Republic of Bou Regreg, a base for Barbary corsairs known as the 'Salé Rovers'.
- The city's medina is listed as a World Heritage Site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rabat and where is it located?
Rabat is Morocco's capital city, perched on the northwestern Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River. It sits directly across the water from Salé, its main commuter partner.
What role does Rabat play in Morocco's governance?
Rabat is the seat of the national government and the capital of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra administrative region. Its metro area, which extends across the river to Salé, is the second-largest in the country after Casablanca.
Who founded Rabat and how old is the city?
The Almohad dynasty established Rabat in the 12th century as a fortified settlement. After an early boom the city fell into a long decline, only to be revived in the 1600s as a place of refuge.
How many people live in Rabat?
The urban core held about 515,619 residents in 2024, while the wider metropolitan area reached roughly 2.1 million by 2025 estimates. That makes Rabat the seventh-largest city in Morocco by urban population.
Why is Rabat historically significant?
Rabat's old medina carries a UNESCO World Heritage designation, testifying to centuries of layered architectural and cultural development. Its origins in Almohad fortifications and its strategic river-mouth position have made it a key coastal settlement for over eight hundred years.
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