A late comer to professional athletics, Boujattaoui began to compete internationally in 2008. His first major competition was the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where he finished in 40th place. The following year he had much improved and finished in eighth place at the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, leading the Moroccan men's team to sixth place in the rankings. He then represented his country at the 2009 Mediterranean Games and he recorded a personal best of 8:13.83 minutes in the 3000 metres steeplechase for the silver medal. He was beaten to the gold by teammate Jamel Chatbi, who failed a drugs test two months later (testing positive for clenbuterol).