What do Lebanese travellers need to know about Morocco?

I want to be clear with my Lebanese guests, because it surprises some: despite the shared Arab heritage, Lebanon is not on Morocco's visa-free list, so you do need a visa before you arrive. Morocco operates an official e-visa scheme, and Lebanese passport holders are generally eligible to apply online — submit your passport, photo and itinerary, pay the fee, and receive an e-visa to print and carry, valid for a stay of up to around three months. A consular visa through the Moroccan embassy in Beirut is the alternative. Keep your passport valid at least six months beyond arrival. Because rules and eligibility can change, I always urge Lebanese travellers to confirm the current requirement on the official Morocco e-visa portal or with the embassy before booking — verify officially rather than trusting this or any informal source.

On flights, the connection is reasonable. Royal Air Maroc has historically linked Casablanca with Beirut, and dependable one-stop routings run via the Gulf — Qatar Airways via Doha, Emirates via Dubai, Etihad via Abu Dhabi — or via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. From Beirut, expect roughly eight to twelve hours including a layover when connecting. Casablanca is the main gateway, with quick onward domestic links to Marrakech, Fes, Tangier and the Atlantic coast.

On money, the dirham is a closed currency you cannot buy in Lebanon, so plan to draw it from ATMs once you arrive — and given Lebanon's banking situation, I particularly recommend carrying a healthy reserve of US dollars in cash as your reliable backup, exchanging them at a bank or licensed bureau in Morocco. Lebanese-issued cards may face limits or reliability issues abroad, so don't depend on them alone; where they work, you'll use them in city hotels and larger shops. The desert, the mountains and the souks are cash-only, so always keep small dirham notes for taxis, tips and stalls.

Culturally, Lebanese travellers feel an instant kinship with Morocco — the shared Arabic language (Moroccan Darija sounds different but Modern Standard Arabic bridges the gap), the call to prayer, halal food as the everyday norm, and a love of food, family and generous hospitality that mirrors Lebanon's own. A few notes still help: French is widely spoken in both countries, which is a real advantage in Morocco's cities and souks; tipping is customary but modest; and the friendly bargaining of the markets will feel familiar. Lebanese food lovers will delight in the tagines, the spices and the sweet pastries. Accept the mint tea wherever it's poured, and Morocco's imperial cities, Sahara and coast feel both familiar and excitingly new.