Casablanca — Africa Morocco Link is set to reinforce the Almería-Nador maritime corridor ahead of the 2026 Marhaba operation, as authorities look for ways to ease pressure on the Strait of Gibraltar during the summer rush.
The move comes at a delicate moment. Traffic through the Strait, especially via Algeciras and Tarifa, is expected to face heavy congestion this year. Two factors are driving that risk. First, the rollout of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), with new biometric checks likely to slow processing times. Second, a solar eclipse on August 12 that is expected to draw additional tourist flows to Spain at the same time as peak return travel for Moroccan expatriates.
To respond, the Port Authority of Almería is strengthening its connection with Nador, with the entry of Africa Morocco Link on the route, increasing capacity, adding more crossings, and giving travelers another option before bottlenecks build up.
The stakes are high for Almería, as around 70% of its annual traffic is linked to Morocco, making it one of the most Morocco-focused ports in Spain.
AML’s return to the corridor is also part of a broader operational push. The company is launching a seasonal Nador-Almería service running from June 10 to September 15, using a high-capacity ferry that can carry up to 1,500 passengers and 400 vehicles per crossing.
The route itself takes around seven hours — longer than the Strait crossings — but with a different advantage, lower congestion risk.
For many Moroccan expatriates, especially those from the Rif and the Oriental region, Nador is already the most direct entry point. Avoiding Algeciras can mean cutting hundreds of kilometers of driving, and potentially hours of waiting in port queues.
Authorities are now trying to promote it . A communication campaign is targeting Moroccan communities in France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, encouraging them to consider Almería as a first option rather than a fallback.
With nearly 3.6 million travelers expected during Marhaba 2026, even small diversions in flow could make a difference. Each car that chooses Almería is one less in line at Algeciras.
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