Morocco registered 74,989 new businesses during the first nine months of 2026, according to the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC). The majority of these new registrations were limited liability companies. OMPIC reported that 56,407 legal entities were registered, representing 75% of the total, while 18,582 businesses were registered by individuals, accounting for the remaining 25%.
The Single-Member Limited Liability Company (SARL AU) was the most popular legal structure for newly established legal entities, accounting for 65% of registrations. The Limited Liability Company (SARL) ranked second, representing 33.8% of the total. This indicates a preference for limited liability structures among new businesses in Morocco.
Casablanca-Settat led the country in new legal entity registrations, accounting for 39.4% of the national total. Rabat-Sale-Kenitra followed with 14.5%, ahead of Marrakech-Safi (12.2%) and Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (10.7%). These four regions together accounted for 76.8% of all newly registered legal entities during the period, highlighting a concentration of business creation in these areas.
In terms of economic activity, trade represented the largest share of newly established legal entities, accounting for 27.2% of registrations. Construction and real estate activities ranked second with 25.35%, followed by various services at 20%, transport at 7.72%, and industry at 6.28%. This distribution suggests that trade and construction are leading sectors for new business creation in Morocco.
The regional distribution differed among businesses registered by natural persons. Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima ranked first, accounting for 20.2% of registrations, followed by Casablanca-Settat with 13.3% and the Eastern region with 11%. This variation indicates different patterns of business registration across regions for individual entrepreneurs.
OMPIC issued 98,515 trade names, known as negative certificates, between January and September 2026. This is an important service provided by OMPIC, allowing businesses to operate under unique and protected names. The issuance of trade names is a critical step in the business registration process.
The growth in new business registrations in Morocco is a positive indicator for the country's economy. It suggests an increase in entrepreneurial activity and business confidence. The Moroccan government and OMPIC continue to play a crucial role in facilitating business creation through their services and support.
Key points
- Casablanca-Settat accounted for 39.4% of newly registered businesses in Morocco during the first nine months of 2026.
- Limited liability companies accounted for the majority of new business registrations in Morocco from January to September 2026.
- Trade represented the largest share of newly established legal entities, accounting for 27.2% of registrations.
