Western Sahara’s Dajla Resort Boom Underscores Ongoing Moroccan Occupation

The coastal town of Dajla in the Moroccan‑occupied Western Sahara has developed into a high‑end tourist hub, featuring surf spots, luxury resorts and a 1,055‑km highway named after former US President Donald J. Trump. Advocates argue the development normalises the occupation by turning contested land into a marketing product, marginalising the Sahrawi population’s claim to self‑determination.

The backdrop dates to 1975 when Spain withdrew without a UN‑mandated referendum, leading Morocco to seize control while the Polisario Front declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. A UN‑brokered cease‑fire in 1991 left the territory’s status unresolved. In December 2020, the United States under the Trump administration formally recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, linking the decision to Morocco’s diplomatic ties with Israel. The Dajla tourism surge is presented as a tangible outcome of that recognition, prompting comparisons to controversies over resort projects in other conflict zones such as Gaza.