Rabat - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Overall this is a very safe post but exercise good judgement as in any larger city. RSO does a great job getting information out to the community and keeping us safe across various housing options. I often walked around alone in the daytime as a woman and was never harassed in Rabat. - May 2022
Rabat is a very safe city, but has the same security concerns found in any medium-sized city. - Apr 2018
Far less than most U.S. cities. Driving can be crazy, but surprisingly there seem to be very few crashes. The usual petty thieving is an issue, but if you're aware of your belongings and careful about how you hold on to things, you won't have issues. - Oct 2017
I always felt very safe in Morocco, either in the cities, wandering the alleys of old medinas, or out in the smaller towns and villages in the countryside. Use your head, keep valuables out of sight, and watch for pickpockets in the more touristy areas.
Women report harassment by males when walking alone or in small groups. This is a very real and common occurrence. - Oct 2017
Women tend to be harassed when moving about on their own. - Aug 2017
The residences are safe and have had security measures put in place. Grills on all access points, etc. There is crime here though most is petty theft. Send nothing of value to the school with your children (cheap phones only) because it is set up that they cannot get to their lockers between each class and the expectation is that they leave their bags piled up. They get looted. Even the school supplies and textbooks (which are PRICEY to replace) are stolen. Friends have been mugged for their bags during daylight hours in busy parking lots and residential neighborhoods. Most want your cell phone or electronics. Any ladies I know who have a penchant for running have either quit or used a treadmill here. Men can be very forward, especially with foreign women; Asians and blondes will have the worst time of it. My teenage girls were regularly approached on the street; men following, reaching out to touch them, and/or block their path. I also know of several attempted sexual assaults on members of the mission community. - Jul 2014
Security here is quite good. There is some non-violent crime, I had a visitor spoil an attempted bag-snatching and I know non-Mission people who have had break-ins, but our houses have good protection and alarms and most places I know of have worse problems than here. There was a home invastion murder of an EU couple (in front of their children) 5 or 6 years ago, but that was an isolated event that could have happened anywhere. - Nov 2011
Women have a particularly hard time. Men have virtually no respect for women, and even less for western women. I'm a big guy (muscle) and never once felt threatened. I know people who have been mugged. - Nov 2011
Rabat is pretty safe, that said, it is in the Middle East and one does need to be vigilant in guarding against terrorists but not to the extent we are in places like Yemen or Pakistan. - Sep 2011
Not really, with common sense....a fairly safe city. There is some petty crime. - Apr 2010
No major concerns. We are encouraged to be aware of our surroundings, etc. - Jun 2008
