Oriental (Morocco)

The Oriental region is one of the twelve regions of Morocco, located in the north-eastern part of the country. With an area of 90,127 km2 and a population of 2,269,378 (2024 census), it is the easternmost region of Morocco. The capital and the largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador. The region includes 7 provinces and one prefecture. The majority of the population of the Oriental Region speaks Moroccan Arabic (86.2%) as a first or second language. According to the 2024 census, 31.1% of the inhabitants of the Oriental Region speak Tarifit. Small numbers speak Eastern Middle Atlas Tamazight and Figuig Tamazight, principally in the south of Oriental. Etymology The English name Oriental is derived from the French term L'Oriental (for "the east") and comes directly from the Latin orientalis, "of the east", being that the region is located in the east of Morocco. The Arabic name Ash-Sharq also means "the east". History On 19 October 2025, Mhamed Atfaoui was appointed Wali of the Oriental region and Governor of the Oujda Angad prefecture by King Mohammed VI, during a Council of Ministers meeting in Rabat. Geography Oriental is situated in the northeastern part of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, lie to its northwest, Taza-Fès-Meknès to its west, Drâa-Tafilalet to the southwest, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region. In 2015, Oriental was expanded to include Guercif Province. The region is made up into the following prefectures and provinces: Berkane Province Driouch Province Figuig Province Guercif Province Jerada Province Nador Province Oujda-Angad Prefecture Taourirt Province Municipalities by population Notable people Arts & 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 Cheikh Mohamed Salah Chaabane, musician, gharnati music Simon Basinger, musicologist, essayist, producer and author Charlotte Slovack, filmmaker Douzi, pop singer Serge Guirao, singer Bayane Belayachi, singer Elwalid Mimoun, artist Khalid izri, artist Namika, musician Mohamed Choukri, writer Sports Hakim Ziyech, international footballer, semi-final World Cup 2022 Adil Belgaid, Olympic judo fighter (3 times World Champion, 6 times African Champion, 3 times Arab Champion, 3 times Olympian) Achraf Ouchen, professional karateka Abdelatif Benazzi, rugby player Philippe Casado, cyclist Selim Amallah, football player 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, footballer 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 Abdelkader El Brazi, former international goalkeeper Aziz Bouhaddouz, international footballer Fouzi Lekjaa, football administrator and businessman Hicham El Guerrouj, former Olympic athlete, world record holder for the fastest mile also the current world record holder in the 1500m and 2000m Mohammed Hendouf, Moroccan-Belgian kickboxer Politics & Diplomats 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 Jamal Benomar, politician Ahmed Aboutaleb, politician 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 Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, politician Germain Ayache, historian Other Abdelrazzak Hifti, 2022 World Cup team doctor Maurice Levy, French businessman, chairman of Publicis Group References External links Oriental web portal in French Oujda entry in lexicorient Figuig in English, French and Arab