Culture of Morocco — Intangible heritage: practical guide

Quick answer. The Culture of Morocco section on Maroc.ma is designed to help users discover Morocco's tangible and intangible heritage by region. It is an official information resource, not an application desk for permits, classification or commercial use of heritage.

Tangible and intangible heritage are not the same

Intangible heritage covers living practices, know-how, traditions, arts and expressions transmitted by communities. Tangible heritage refers more directly to places, monuments, objects and sites. The distinction matters because the same region may be represented by both a traditional craft and a historic place.

Explore by region

The official portal presents the twelve regions of Morocco, from Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima to Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab. For a local search, start with the region and then open the associated entries. This is more useful than a single national list when planning a visit, a cultural project or school research.

Examples recognised beyond the portal

Maroc.ma notes that several Moroccan elements appear on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including the Tan-Tan Moussem, the cultural space of Jemaa El-Fna, Gnaoua, Tbourida, Malhoun and, since 2025, the Moroccan caftan. Some inscriptions are national while others are multinational.

What the page does not authorise

Reading a cultural entry does not create rights over heritage and does not constitute permission for filming, excavation, events or commercial exploitation. For an administrative procedure, identify the Culture department, regional directorate or body responsible for the relevant site and verify the applicable process.

Recommended approach

1. choose tangible or intangible heritage;
2. select the relevant region;
3. open the entries that match your research;
4. cross-check specialised sources for academic work;
5. contact the competent authority for any permit or professional use.

Use the portal as a documentary starting point

Maroc.ma is suitable for first discovery and for identifying cultural elements by territory. For a research file, exhibition or editorial project, supplement it with publications from the ministry, UNESCO or the heritage institution concerned. Always distinguish recognition of an element, its geographic scope and the rules governing reproduction or exploitation.

Official sources checked on 8 September 2026

• Maroc.ma — intangible heritage
• Maroc.ma — tangible heritage

Key point: use Maroc.ma to discover and locate heritage; for a formal procedure, move to the cultural authority that actually has jurisdiction.