Tangier International Zone, former international zone in Morocco
Tangier International Zone was an area in Morocco and Spain under joint administration of several countries between 1923 and 1956. The zone covered the city of Tangier and its surroundings on the Strait of Gibraltar and served as neutral territory with a special legal status.
After the end of the First World War, European powers agreed to administer Tangier as neutral ground to secure trade routes and avoid political conflict. The zone ended in 1956 when Morocco gained full independence and Tangier rejoined the kingdom.
The name recalls a time when several European powers jointly administered the city and made Tangier a place where Western and North African ways of life met. Today this influence shows in street names, architecture, and the many languages you hear in daily conversations.
The city is now fully integrated into Morocco and travelers find themselves in a regular urban setting. Historical references to the International Zone period are mostly found in museums, old government buildings, and certain neighborhoods.
During the International Zone period, Tangier had no single currency and visitors could pay with money from several countries. This freedom made the city a magnet for artists, writers, and people escaping strict laws in their home countries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
