Morocco Launches Rally AI Future Lab in Merzouga to Drive National Technological Sovereignty

A High-Tech Gathering in the Merzouga Dunes

Morocco has officially launched the Rally AI Future Lab, an intensive five-day national initiative designed to accelerate local artificial intelligence development and establish technological sovereignty. Organised by the Jazari Institute under the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, the inaugural event runs from June 16 to 20, 2026, in the desert city of Merzouga. Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the program brings together 1,000 researchers, engineers, students, entrepreneurs, and developers. By choosing Merzouga, a location historically famous for hosting the annual off-road Merzouga Rally since 2010, the Moroccan government is actively promoting digital inclusion across all 12 regions of the country rather than limiting tech resources to traditional urban hubs like Rabat and Casablanca.

Building the AI Made in Morocco Engine

The new lab is a key pillar of the broader AI Made in Morocco strategy, which aims to generate a 100 billion dirham contribution to the national gross domestic product and create 50,000 jobs in the artificial intelligence sector. Organisers plan to scale the initiative to reach 5,000 participants across multiple regional cohorts. Over the five-day sprint, attendees participate in hands-on training, prototyping, and mentorship to design AI solutions tailored to public services, administrative efficiency, and economic competitiveness. This initiative builds on the success of the earlier RamadanIA Hackathon, which drew over 700 participants and 50 mentors across the country to showcase local digital creativity.

A Growing National Ecosystem from Casablanca to Marrakech

The launch of the lab coincides with broader advancements in Morocco's digital economy, which currently accounts for 6.8 percent of the national gross domestic product. At the GITEX Africa conference in Marrakech, local players demonstrated their commitment to training and enterprise adoption, highlighted by the Moroccan AI firm AI Crafters acquiring a majority stake in Digitancy to build an end-to-end AI value chain. Additionally, the CBRE 2025 Global Tech Talent Guidebook recently recognized Casablanca as one of 40 emerging global tech cities, citing its strategic location connecting Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Under the Digital Morocco 2030 Strategy launched in late 2024, the country aims to elevate its e-governance standing from 90th in the global E-Government Development Index into the top 50 worldwide, leveraging its expanding suite of digital public services.

What this means for Africa: Morocco is establishing a replicable blueprint for national technological sovereignty by combining targeted regional talent development in artificial intelligence with strategic structural reforms under its Digital Morocco 2030 Strategy.