• Morocco will install 4,000 smart surveillance cameras in Rabat by end of 2025
• The $10.4 million project is led by Rabat Région Aménagements, Finatech and Alomra Group handling infrastructure and deployment
• Equiped with with facial recognition and license plate reading, the cameras aim at enhancing urban security and traffic management
  
  

Morocco is set to install 4,000 smart surveillance cameras in its capital, Rabat, by year-end, joining a global trend of increased investment in video surveillance technology driven by advances in facial recognition and automated data analysis.

The project, spearheaded by public entity Rabat Région Aménagements, carries a budget of approximately 100 million dirhams ($10.4 million). Finatech Group will handle the installation of command and data collection centers, while Alomra Group International will deploy the cameras, which will feature facial recognition and automated license plate reading capabilities.

This initiative aligns with Morocco's digital transformation strategy and its preparations for major international events, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The deployment aims to enhance security and improve population flow management.

According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the global video surveillance systems market is projected to grow from $81.68 billion in 2024 to $145.38 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 12.22%. Several African nations, including Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Seychelles, have also recently invested in these technologies to bolster urban security and optimize public space management.

While proponents emphasize the benefits of smart surveillance in crime prevention and traffic management, concerns remain regarding personal data protection and individual freedoms. Morocco’s National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP) has initiated hearings to regulate the use of these technologies and ensure compliance with Law 09-08, the country’s personal data protection law.

The challenge, as Morocco advances in smart city management, is to balance security innovation with the safeguarding of citizens’ rights.

By Samira Njoya,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji