El Toufiq: Endowment Properties as a Lever for Development… Hundreds of Hectares Allocated for Residential and Economic Projects Across the Kingdom
The Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed El Toufiq, emphasized that endowment properties represent a “sacred ownership” subject to precise legal and regulatory controls. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to utilize this real estate asset to launch housing, economic, and social projects in various regions of the kingdom.
During a session for oral questions in the House of Representatives, El Toufiq explained that partnerships formed by the endowments with public and private stakeholders transform this asset into a developmental lever by mobilizing hundreds of hectares for urban and structured service projects.
The minister highlighted several of these projects, including the resettlement of residents from the crumbling “Douar” neighborhood in Oujda on a 72,795 square meter endowment property, and the establishment of an economic and industrial activity zone in the Al Hoceima region covering 58,000 square meters. He also mentioned a market project for traders in the Ksnaya municipality on a 12,917 square meter endowment property, in addition to a residential and commercial project at the Salihin market in Salé, spanning an area of 12 hectares, within agreements with the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region Council.
El Toufiq revealed that more than 42 endowment properties have been mobilized to implement projects in partnership with the private sector in several cities, including Oujda, Safi, Essaouira, Beni Mellal, Sefrou, Ksar al-Kabir, Chefchaouen, Marrakech, and Salé.
He clarified that the areas designated for social projects between 2008 and 2024 reached approximately 1,750 hectares, reflecting the strong commitment of the endowments to support religious and social sectors across various regions of the country.
Regarding the commercial endowment properties affected by fire, numbering 38, El Toufiq confirmed that the ministry will follow the same legal procedures applicable to other owners, emphasizing that the endowments do not obstruct any legal process but must treat the “sacred ownership” with the necessary scrutiny before issuing any rulings.
On the topic of cemeteries, the minister stressed that they cannot be transferred from a legal perspective, although the ministry offers some facilitation in exceptional cases according to regulations.
El Toufiq also reviewed the budget evolution for traditional education, which increased from 3 million dirhams in 2004 to 332 million dirhams in 2025, alongside a marked increase in the number of traditional education schools from 114 to 275 currently, with a capacity of 36,000 students during the 2022-2023 academic year compared to only 7,683 in the 2006-2007 academic year, as well as improvements in grants, rewards, and educational conditions.
