Two planned sightseeing vehicles would combine a drive through the capital with a trip on the river. The supply contract has been awarded, but a public opening date remains unconfirmed.
Rabat Région Mobilité has awarded SOREMAR a contract worth about MAD 27.4 million, including VAT, for amphibious buses intended to carry sightseers on both city roads and the Bouregreg.
An official procurement result dated 25 September confirms the award. According to La Vie Éco and Médias24, the project covers two vehicles that would allow passengers to combine a road tour with a river excursion without changing vehicles.
The selection of a supplier is a concrete advance for the project. Manufacture, testing, crew training and the necessary approvals must still be completed before the proposed attraction can carry passengers.
What the contract covers
The official award notice records a total of MAD 27.375 million, including 20% VAT. The reported package includes preparatory studies, testing, delivery and training alongside the vehicles themselves.
According to La Vie Éco, the initial work will examine feasibility and adapt the vehicles to the ramps used to enter and leave the river. Factory tests, trials in Morocco and crew training are also included in the programme.
The latest award follows earlier attempts to secure a supplier. Médias24 reported two unsuccessful procurement rounds before the July tender, which carried an estimated budget of MAD 25 million. That estimate should be distinguished from the confirmed award value.
SOREMAR’s role is to supply the vehicles. The manufacturer and the future tour operator are not identified in the material reviewed.
One vehicle, two ways to see the city
An amphibious bus is designed to travel on roads and navigate on water. For sightseeing, its appeal is the continuity of the journey: a road circuit and a river trip become parts of the same excursion.
The Bouregreg separates Rabat from neighbouring Salé before reaching the Atlantic. Its waterfront already accommodates leisure activity, including the marina on the Salé bank.
A combined tour could give visitors two perspectives on the capital within one outing, moving from street-level sightseeing to views from the river. For residents, it could offer a different way to experience familiar surroundings.
Médias24 reports that the specifications call for at least 36 seated passengers per vehicle, excluding crew. Its September coverage also describes plans for panoramic views, multilingual audio guides and accessibility provisions for people with reduced mobility.
These remain planned features. The proposed service is intended for sightseeing rather than everyday commuting.
Why the execution period is not a launch date
La Vie Éco reports a 20-month execution period: two months for feasibility and adaptation studies, followed by 18 months covering manufacture, factory testing, delivery to Morocco, local trials and crew training.
The vehicles must also obtain the relevant Moroccan road and maritime approvals before entering service, according to the reporting.
That schedule sets out the work needed to fulfil the contract. It does not establish when the first public tour will depart. The material reviewed does not confirm the contractual commencement date, so counting 20 months from the award announcement would produce an unreliable opening forecast.
What visitors still need to know
As of 28 September 2026, the sources reviewed do not specify a confirmed opening date, fares, the final sightseeing route, passenger boarding points, operating hours or booking arrangements.
The references to river-access ramps concern vehicle movements between land and water. They do not confirm where passengers would board or which landmarks a tour would include.
Travellers with reduced mobility will also need practical details about boarding assistance and wheelchair arrangements before assessing whether the full journey meets their needs.
Delivery, local trials and road and maritime approvals are the milestones to watch before the first passengers can board.