Rabat

الرِّبَاط (Arabic)
ⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ (Berber)

City

Flag

Seal

Rabat

Coordinates: 34°02′N 6°50′W / 34.033°N 6.833°W

Country

Morocco

Region

Rabat-Salé-Kénitra

Founded by Almohads

1146

Government

• Mayor

Fathallah Oualalou

Area

• City

117 km² (45.17 sq mi)

Highest elevation

160 m (520 ft)

Lowest elevation

0 m (0 ft)

Population (2014)

• City

577,827

• Rank

7th in Morocco

• Density

4,900/km² (13,000/sq mi)

• Metro

2,120,192

Time zone

WET (UTC+0)

• Summer (DST)

WEST (UTC+1)

Website

www.rabat.ma

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official name

Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage

Type

Cultural

Criteria

ii, iv

Designated

2012 (36th session)

Reference no.

1401

State Party

Morocco

Region

Arab States

Rabat (Arabic: الرِّبَاط‎‎, ar-ribāṭ; Moroccan Arabic: الرَّبَاط‎‎, ar-rabāṭ; Berber: ⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ, Ṛṛbaṭ) is the capital of Morocco and its seventh largest city centre with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan population of over 1.2 million. It is also the capital of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra administrative region.

The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. On the facing shore of the river lies Salé, the city's main commuter town. Rabat, Temara, and Salé form a conurbation of over 1.8 million people. Silt-related problems have diminished Rabat's role as a port; however, Rabat and Salé still maintain important textile, food processing and construction industries. In addition, tourism and the presence of all foreign embassies in Morocco serve to make Rabat one of the most important cities in the country.

Once a reputed corsair haven, Rabat served as one of the many ports in North Africa for the Barbary pirates, who were particularly active from the 16th through the 18th centuries.

Rabat is accessible by train through the ONCF system and by plane through the nearby Rabat–Salé Airport.

...
Wikipedia