Tanger Med free zone: business zones, IAZ regime and setup
There is no single “Tanger Med free zone” as such: Tanger Med refers to a port, a public agency and a set of distinct business zones, several of which fall under the industrial acceleration zone (IAZ) regime of Law No. 19-94. To set up, you therefore target a specific zone (Tanger Free Zone, Tanger Automotive City, Tetouan Shore…) and obtain approval from the local committee. This page sets out the key landmarks; our detailed guide to setting up a business at Tanger Med covers the full procedure.
In brief. Tanger Med covers three things not to be confused: the port (logistics within a customs enclosure), the developer TMSA and its subsidiary Tanger Med Zones (which manage the zones), and the zones themselves. Zones under the IAZ regime offer a full corporate income tax (CIT) exemption for the first 5 financial years, a duty-suspension customs regime and freedom of foreign exchange with other countries. The operating licence is granted by the wali on the binding opinion of a local committee, which rules within 30 days (Art. 12, Law 19-94).
Tanger Med: port, developer or free zone?
Investors searching for a “Tanger Med free zone” are in fact looking for one of the platform’s business zones. Three levels coexist:
- Tanger Med port: the port complex on the Strait of Gibraltar, operated by Tanger Med Port Authority. It hosts terminals, handling operators, freight forwarders and a logistics zone within the customs enclosure for value-added activities.
- TMSA and Tanger Med Zones: Tanger Med Special Agency leads the project; according to the group’s official website, its subsidiary Tanger Med Zones is the developer, operator and manager of the platform’s industrial and business zones. Under Law 19-94, it is the “development and management body” (Art. 4 and 5): it leases, services and secures land and instructs licence applications.
- The zones: each is created by a regulatory act that sets the permitted activities (Art. 2). The Tangier export free zone was created by Decree No. 2-96-511 of 10 November 1997; the concession for its development was approved by Decree No. 2-98-99 of 4 February 1998.
Tanger Med Zones is therefore not a free zone: it is the counterpart that opens the door to one of them.
Which business zones at Tanger Med, and for which profile?
The table sets out each zone’s purpose as presented by the developer on tangermed.ma and tangermedzones.com. We do not give surface areas or company counts: these figures change and should be checked with the developer at the time of the project.
| Zone | Stated purpose | Typical profile |
|---|---|---|
| Tanger Free Zone (TFZ) | Morocco’s first free zone, opened in 1999; multi-sector industry and related services | Exporting manufacturer, subcontractor, service provider to manufacturers |
| Tanger Automotive City (TAC) | Automotive industry, close to the Renault plant | Automotive supplier, automotive logistics provider |
| Tetouan Shore | Offices for offshoring (ITO, BPO, KPO) | Shared services centre, contact centre |
| Tetouan Park | SMEs and SMIs targeting the domestic market | SME focused on the Moroccan market |
| Fnideq business zone | Distribution and trade | Wholesaler, distributor |
| Port logistics zone | Value-added logistics within the customs enclosure | Logistics provider, distribution platform |
Two points to note. The Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City, of which 467 hectares have been designated as an IAZ according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, appears on the platform map but is not managed by Tanger Med Zones. And not all zones share the same regime: Law 19-94 prohibits retail sales in an IAZ (Art. 40), which keeps pure trading activities, such as those targeted at Fnideq, and SMEs focused on the domestic market, such as at Tetouan Park, outside the IAZ regime. To compare all sites, see our Tangier free zones hub and our comparison which free zone to choose in Tangier.
What tax, customs and exchange regime applies in a Tanger Med IAZ?
Law No. 19-94, promulgated by Dahir No. 1-95-1 of 26 January 1995, established the export free zones, since renamed industrial acceleration zones. Its tax provisions have been incorporated into the General Tax Code (CGI), which alone is authoritative.
| Area | Rule (IAZ company) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | Full exemption for the first 5 consecutive financial years from the start of operations, then taxation according to the company’s situation; excluded from the 35% rate applicable above MAD 100 million of net profit | CGI Art. 6-II-B-8° and Art. 19 |
| Minimum contribution | Rate of 0.25%, minimum MAD 3,000; exemption for the first 36 months of operation, within 60 months of incorporation | CGI Art. 144 |
| Dividends paid | 10% withholding tax in 2026, subject to tax treaties | CGI Art. 19-IV-B |
| Customs | Goods entering, stored in, produced in or leaving the zone are exempt from duties and taxes; entry from Morocco = export, exit to Morocco = import | Law 19-94 Art. 21 and 22 |
| Foreign exchange | Full freedom of exchange for transactions with other countries; settlements within the zone in convertible foreign currency | Law 19-94 Art. 17 and 19; IGOC |
These benefits do not lighten formal obligations: accounts kept under the CGNC, tax return within three months of year-end (Art. 20 CGI), monthly or quarterly VAT depending on turnover (Art. 108), payroll statement before 1 March (Art. 79), monthly CNSS returns. Details are in our articles on IAZ tax benefits, the import-export customs regime and foreign exchange controls in free zones.
How do you obtain an operating licence in a Tanger Med zone?
In an IAZ you cannot simply move in: you must be licensed. Chapter III of Law 19-94 sets four steps.
- Application filed with the developer (Tanger Med Zones for TFZ and TAC): project, activity, investment, jobs, timetable (Art. 11 and 14).
- Review by the local committee, chaired by the wali or governor and bringing together the relevant authorities (Art. 11).
- Decision within 30 days of filing against receipt; after this period the application is deemed accepted (Art. 12).
- Licence from the wali, on the committee’s binding opinion, setting completion deadlines and any specific conditions (Art. 11 and 13).
A refusal must be justified by the nature of the activity in light of the zone’s founding act; the investor has eight days to refer the matter to the Head of Government, who rules within thirty days (Art. 12). The licence does not replace the legal incorporation of the company, which runs in parallel: see our guide to company formation in Tangier.
Why choose an accountant based in Tanger Free Zone?
The platform’s zones form a dense but scattered ecosystem: TFZ is next to Tangier airport, TAC is near the Renault site at Melloussa, Tangier Tech lies between the two and the port is to the east, on the Strait. Investors deal with the developer, the local committee, customs, the Foreign Exchange Office, the tax authority (DGI) and the CNSS.
Cabinet Dami & Associés is based in Tanger Free Zone (Espace N°27, Lot 43B, 90000 Tangier). Being on site changes day-to-day handling: filing and follow-up of applications with Tanger Med Zones, coordination with the zone’s customs office, responsiveness during inspections. From choosing the zone to the first year-end close, we handle company formation, foreign currency accounts, bookkeeping, payroll and tax returns. To choose your adviser, read our guide on choosing a free zone accountant in Tangier.
Common mistakes before setting up
- Looking for a single “Tanger Med free zone”: you need to target TFZ, TAC, Tetouan Shore or another specific zone.
- Incorporating before obtaining the zone licence: a registered company whose activity is refused has neither premises nor a suitable regime.
- Mis-describing the activity: the IAZ regime targets industry and related services; trading presented as manufacturing will block the application.
- Forgetting the foreign currency account: settlements within the zone are made in convertible currency (Art. 19).
- Letting the completion deadline lapse: the licence may be withdrawn if the investment is not made within the set period (Art. 13); request an extension in time.
FAQ — Tanger Med free zone
Is Tanger Med a free zone?
Not strictly. Tanger Med refers to a port, the TMSA agency and its business zones. Some of these zones, such as Tanger Free Zone, fall under the IAZ regime of Law 19-94; Tanger Med Zones itself is the developer and manager.
Can you set up a company directly in the port?
Port and logistics activities carried out within the port enclosure fall under Tanger Med Port Authority. Industrial and service projects set up in the zones managed by Tanger Med Zones.
How long does the operating licence take?
The local committee must rule within 30 days of filing against receipt (Art. 12, Law 19-94). This period covers neither the preparation of the file nor the legal incorporation of the company.
What tax applies after the first five financial years?
Article 6-II-B-8° of the CGI provides a full CIT exemption for the first five financial years, then taxation according to the company’s situation. This is assessed case by case: contact Cabinet Dami & Associés.
Can a Moroccan company set up in an IAZ?
Yes, but legal entities headquartered in Morocco may only invest there in compliance with foreign exchange regulations (Art. 18, Law 19-94), and the activity must match the zone’s founding act.
Official sources: Ministry of Industry and Trade — export free zones (Law 19-94); Tanger Med Zones; General Tax Code 2026.
The information in this article is provided for guidance only and may change as laws and regulations evolve. For an analysis tailored to your situation, contact Cabinet Dami & Associés — Tanger Free Zone: +212 539-39-81-18.
