Morocco’s administrative, commercial courts achieve record efficiency amid infrastructure boom

Morocco’s administrative and commercial courts posted impressive efficiency gains in 2024, processing cases at unprecedented rates while managing surging workloads driven by national infrastructure projects, according to the annual report from the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power.

Administrative tribunals demonstrated marked improvement, with first-instance courts achieving processing rates of 119.5% and appeals courts reaching 96.2%, indicating capacity to reduce case backlogs. The rate of compliance with indicative deadlines reached 74.76%, considered satisfactory given increasingly complex litigation. These indicators reflect sustained organizational efforts and streamlined procedures.

The dramatic rise in expropriation cases underscores the pace of national infrastructure development. Between 2023 and 2024, administrative appeals courts in Rabat and Marrakech saw expropriation matters surge 198%, jumping from 2,351 to 7,014 new cases. Decided cases in this category increased 113% during the same period.

This surge directly correlates with major structural projects including highways, rail lines, industrial zones, stadiums and urban developments, requiring extensive land acquisition. Administrative courts play essential roles in reconciling public interest projects with private property rights protections. While first-instance courts registered 17,430 expropriation cases in 2023, the figure dropped to 6,584 in 2024, suggesting progressive normalization after an exceptional activity phase.

Public procurement and tax litigation also increased substantially. New public contract disputes rose 25% to 1,184 cases in 2024. Tax contentions climbed 21% to 2,230 new matters, with decided cases advancing 13%, demonstrating enhanced capacity to absorb demand.

The report highlighted judicial mobilization against real estate spoliation, a phenomenon historically compromising land security. Courts processed 332 such cases through December 2024, with Marrakech appeals court handling 37.6% of matters.

Commercial courts maintained strong performance with 98.6% processing rates in first instance and 102.7% on appeal. Indicative deadline compliance reached 77.39%, consolidating Morocco’s position as an attractive economic destination where commercial justice ensures business climate stability.

Intellectual property cases expanded 11.77% to 1,016 matters in 2024, with nearly 70% under Casablanca’s commercial appeals jurisdiction, reflecting Morocco’s innovation-based economic emergence.