Casablanca ranked as Africa’s leading financial center in the latest Global Financial Center Index (GFCI 39), underscoring its growing prominence on the continent.
The index, published in March 2026 by consultancy Z/Yen Group in partnership with the China Development Institute, ranked Casablanca 49th out of 120 financial centers worldwide.
It placed ahead of other African hubs including Mauritius, which ranked 50th, and Kigali at 72nd.
Within the Middle East, Gulf center including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha continue to dominate, placing African cities in a second-tier position.
Casablanca climbed seven places compared with the previous edition of the index.
The GFCI classifies Casablanca as an “international financial center in development,” reflecting its role as a gateway between Africa and global investors.
Johannesburg recorded the strongest improvement among African centers, rising 14 places, while Nairobi saw the sharpest drop in score. Kigali and Cape Town also lost ground, and Lagos moved up one place despite a lower score.
