Marhaba 2026 set to break records with over 3.5 million travelers between Morocco and Spain

The Marhaba 2026 operation is expected to set new records, with more than 3.5 million passengers and 800,000 vehicles projected to cross between Morocco and Spain, a 3% increase compared to last year.

Preparations for the operation, scheduled to run from June 15 to September 15, were discussed during the 37th session of the Moroccan-Spanish Joint Committee held Wednesday in Tangier. The meeting was co-chaired by Khalid Zerouali, Governor and Director of Migration and Border Control at Morocco’s Ministry of Interior, and Virginia Barcones Sanz, Secretary General for Civil Protection and Emergencies at Spain’s Ministry of Interior.

Barcones said each edition of the Marhaba operation brings new challenges requiring «planning, effort, and coordination», describing Moroccan-Spanish cooperation as «the key factor» in ensuring the smooth running of the operation and responding to potential emergencies.

The 2026 plan will maintain the same organizational framework adopted in previous years, with a focus on easing traffic flow, reducing waiting times at ports, and improving reception and assistance services for travelers.

This year’s edition is also expected to see a broader mobilization of personnel, with staffing levels increasing by around 10% compared to last year. According to the Spanish Ministry of Interior, more than 31,500 people, including security personnel, healthcare workers, social assistants, translators, and volunteers, will take part in the operation.

For the first time, Marhaba will use an advanced digital system for real-time data management, integrating crossing information with traffic flow, port activity, weather conditions, and incident monitoring to better manage passenger and vehicle movement during peak periods.

Both Moroccan and Spanish officials stressed the importance of strengthening communication with travelers ahead of the operation and encouraged passengers to purchase confirmed travel tickets in advance to help reduce congestion and improve crossings.

The Marhaba operation has been organized continuously since 1986 as part of Moroccan-Spanish cooperation to facilitate the annual movement of millions of travelers between Europe and North Africa.