Lois Larson
The Moroccan Dirham (MAD) is the official currency of Morocco, where it is used in Marrakech and everywhere else. It is a closed currency, meaning it is difficult to obtain outside of Morocco, and it is illegal to take in or out of the country. As such, it is recommended that you exchange your money once you arrive at the airport. While the exchange rate at the airport is higher than what you would find at a bank in Marrakech, the convenience of exchanging money at the airport outweighs the extra charges. ATMs are also available at the airport, but you may face a charge from your bank for using your card abroad.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Currency in Marrakech | Moroccan Dirham (MAD) |
| Denominations of coins | ½, 1, 2, 5, and 10 dirhams |
| Denominations of banknotes | 20, 50, 100, and 200 |
| Dirham outside Morocco | Difficult to find |
| Exchange at the airport | Possible but higher rates |
| Exchange rate outside the airport | Better |
| Using ATMs at the airport | Possible but higher charges |
| Using foreign currency | Euros are accepted but cost more |
| Exchanging Dirham back to home currency | Difficult outside Morocco |
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What You'll Learn
- Dirham is a closed currency, so it's hard to find outside Morocco
- You can exchange money at the airport, but the rates are higher
- ATMs are available at the airport, but your bank may charge a fee
- Shops at the airport accept euros, but it's more expensive
- You can't use dirhams at duty-free shops in the airport
Dirham is a closed currency, so it's hard to find outside Morocco
The Moroccan Dirham (MAD) is the official currency of Morocco, where it is also known as "dh" and "santimat" or "centimes" in French. The Dirham is a closed currency, meaning it is exclusive to Morocco and hard to find elsewhere. As such, you won't be able to buy any Moroccan Dirhams before you enter the country.
Due to the Dirham's closed nature, it is recommended to only exchange money into the local currency once you arrive in Morocco. You can exchange foreign currency at the airport, but the exchange rates may be higher than at a bank in Marrakech. It is also possible to withdraw Dirhams from an ATM at the airport, but you may face charges from your bank for using your card abroad. ATMs outside of the airport may offer better exchange rates, and they are widely available throughout Morocco.
It is worth noting that you cannot exchange Dirhams back into another currency once you leave Morocco. As such, it is advised to only exchange the amount of money you think you will need and spend it all within the country.
In Morocco, cash is king. While larger hotels, luxury restaurants, and malls may accept credit and debit cards, most places in Marrakech are cash-only.
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You can exchange money at the airport, but the rates are higher
The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, meaning it is difficult to obtain outside of Morocco. As such, you will not be able to buy Moroccan Dirham before you leave for your trip. However, you can exchange money at the airport.
Marrakech Airport has several banks and foreign currency exchange counters in the main terminal building, which offer competitive rates. However, the exchange rates at the airport can be 10-12% higher than at a bank in Marrakech. This is because the airport takes advantage of the fact that you cannot buy Dirham abroad, so you have no choice but to accept the higher rates.
ATMs are also available at the airport, and it is recommended that you use your card at an ATM to withdraw Dirham, rather than exchanging money at a currency exchange counter. This is because some currency exchange counters will refuse to exchange your Dirham back into your original currency if you do not have a transaction receipt, even if you have a receipt from the ATM. However, using an ATM at the airport may result in charges from your bank or card issuer for foreign transactions.
It is also worth noting that, while you can spend Dirham at most shops and food outlets in the airport, duty-free shops will not accept Dirham as payment.
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ATMs are available at the airport, but your bank may charge a fee
The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, meaning it is difficult to obtain outside of Morocco. As such, it is recommended that you do not buy Moroccan Dirham from an agent in your home country, as you will likely get a poor exchange rate. Instead, it is best to wait until you arrive in Morocco and then exchange your money.
ATMs are available at Marrakech Airport, and you can use these to obtain Moroccan Dirham. However, it is worth noting that your bank may charge a fee for using your card abroad or carrying out a foreign exchange. These fees can make it costly to withdraw money from an ATM, so it may be more cost-effective to use an ATM outside of the airport. Additionally, the exchange rate at the airport may be higher than what you would find at a bank in Marrakech.
If you plan to use an ATM at the airport, it is a good idea to inform your bank that you will be travelling to Morocco to prevent any issues with withdrawing money. You can also bring US Dollars, British Pounds, or Euros and exchange them at the airport, although the exchange rates may be higher than elsewhere.
It is important to keep your transaction receipt when exchanging money, as you will need it to exchange any leftover Dirham back into your currency before you leave Morocco.
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Shops at the airport accept euros, but it's more expensive
The Moroccan Dirham is the official currency of Morocco, where Marrakech is located. It is a closed currency, which means it is difficult to obtain outside of Morocco. As a result, it is recommended that you do not buy Moroccan Dirham from an agent outside of Morocco, as the exchange rate will usually be unfavourable.
At Marrakech Airport, there are several options for obtaining Moroccan Dirham. There are ATMs and currency exchange counters available in the airport's arrival hall and main terminal building. However, it is worth noting that exchange rates at the airport can be higher than at banks in the city. Additionally, using an ATM at the airport to withdraw cash in Moroccan Dirham may incur charges from your bank or card issuer.
Shops at the airport generally accept Euros, but it is more expensive to pay in Euros than in the local currency. This is because the airport exchange rates for Euros to Dirhams are often unfavourable. It is recommended to exchange your currency into Moroccan Dirham upon arrival at the airport to get a better exchange rate and avoid paying higher prices in Euros.
When exchanging money at the airport, it is important to keep the transaction receipt. This receipt is necessary when exchanging Dirham back into your original currency, as some currency exchange counters may refuse to exchange without it. Additionally, be mindful that there may be restrictions on taking Moroccan Dirham in and out of the country, so it is best to use it or exchange it before leaving Morocco.
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You can't use dirhams at duty-free shops in the airport
The Moroccan Dirham is the official currency of Morocco, where Marrakech is located. It is a closed currency, which means it is difficult to obtain outside of Morocco. While you can use dirhams at the Marrakech airport, there are some exceptions.
The duty-free shops at the Marrakech airport do not accept dirhams as payment. This is a common occurrence at the airport, so if you plan to shop duty-free, you should be prepared to use another form of payment. While it is not recommended to exchange money at the airport due to higher exchange rates, you can exchange your currency for dirhams at the airport or use an ATM to withdraw dirhams. However, it is important to note that if you withdraw dirhams from an ATM and wish to exchange them back into your currency, you may encounter difficulties.
It is illegal to take Moroccan Dirhams out of Morocco, and you may be searched by customs officers to ensure you are not carrying any. Therefore, it is advisable to exchange your dirhams before leaving the country. While you may be able to find a currency exchange facility that can exchange your dirhams, you will likely pay a high price for it.
When exchanging money in Marrakech, it is important to be aware of the correct exchange rate between the Euro and the Moroccan Dirham. Many traders will try to convince tourists that 1 Euro is equivalent to 10 dirhams, which is incorrect. The correct exchange rate is closer to 11.10 dirhams to 1 Euro.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use Dirhams at Marrakech Airport. However, duty-free shops do not accept Dirhams.
You can exchange currency at the airport after passing through customs in the arrival hall. There are BMCE ATM machines and a currency exchange office.
It is recommended to use an ATM at the airport for convenience. However, the exchange rates can be higher than at banks in Marrakech. You can also bring US Dollars, British Pounds, or Euros and exchange them at the airport.
