Fez medina looks to the future 45 years after becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site

Fez's medina, one of the world's best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site for 45 years, is embarking on a comprehensive transformation. A large-scale rehabilitation program seeks to safeguard its rich heritage, sustain its traditional crafts, and enhance the lives of its inhabitants.

Founded in the 9th century and home to the world's oldest university, Al-Qarawiyyin, the medina is a vibrant tapestry of riads, spice stalls, and local products. Its souks are organized by guilds where jewelers, blacksmiths, tanners, ceramists, and weavers keep alive crafts passed down through generations. Spanning approximately 300 hectares with nearly 90 kilometers of pedestrian streets, the medina has been the focus of a rehabilitation program initiated in 2010, with an investment reaching $342 million.

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Our intervention covers all components of the medina. We don't just restore major monuments; we also rehabilitate public spaces, neighborhood facilities, small mosques, traditional bread ovens, and workshops, because they are all part of the medina's heritage and life.

Fouad Serghini, Director General of the Agency for the Development and Rehabilitation of the Fez Medina (ADER), stated the program's goals are to improve residents' quality of life, preserve the historical, social, economic, and cultural values of the heritage, and maintain its artisanal tradition. "Our intervention covers all components of the medina. We don't just restore major monuments; we also rehabilitate public spaces, neighborhood facilities, small mosques, traditional bread ovens, and workshops, because they are all part of the medina's heritage and life," Serghini explained.

These efforts have revitalized economic dynamism, particularly for the nearly 40,000 artisans working in the medina, many of whose workshops have been restored. The program extends to historical buildings that had lost their original function. For instance, the 14th-century Souk Semmarine, a former grain store, is slated for a new phase as a cultural space after its restoration. Additionally, unique elements like a medieval hydraulic clock, madrasas, riads converted into cultural spaces, and historical fortifications have been rehabilitated, ensuring the medina's continued relevance and vibrancy.

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These actions have boosted economic dynamism through artisans.