M'diq-Fnideq Prefecture

M'diq-Fnideq borders Fahs-Anjra Province to the west, Tétouan Province to the south, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the Spanish exclave of Ceuta to the northeast and the Strait of Gibraltar to the north. Jebel Musa, located in the northern part of the prefecture, is its highest point at 851 metres.{{cite report |url=https://www.hcp.ma/region-tanger/attachment/1025151/ |title=Monographie de la préfecture de M’Diq-Fnideq |language=fr |publisher=High Commission for Planning, Morocco |date=May 2018 |accessdate=10 October 2020}} The coastline at the base of Jebel Musa is a Ramsar site, and this area and portions of the mountainous interior are part of the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean.{{cite web |url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2381 |title=Littoral de Jbel Moussa |date=23 July 2019 |publisher=Ramsar Sites Information Service |accessdate=10 October 2020}}

The prefecture is drained by five wadis or seasonal rivers: Oued Smir, Oued Negro, Oued Fnideq, Oued Rmel and Oued Martil. The coastal lagoon of Oued Smir and its reservoir upstream were designated a Ramsar site in 2019.{{cite web |url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2380 |title=Lagune et barrage de Smir |date=15 July 2019 |publisher=Ramsar Sites Information Service |accessdate=10 October 2020}}

The prefecture experiences a Mediterranean climate. The easterly prevailing wind in the prefecture is known as the chergui.

M'diq-Fnideq was created in 2004 from the municipalities of M'diq and Fnideq and the rural commune of Allyene, all formerly part of Tétouan Province. Martil was annexed to the prefecture from Tétouan Province in 2010.

The following people have served as governors of M'diq-Fnideq:

• Mohamed Yacoubi, 2005–2010{{cite news |date=19 February 2019 |title=Biographie de M. Mohamed Yacoubi, Wali de la région de Rabat-Salé-Kénitra et Gouverneur de la préfecture de Rabat |url=http://www.mapexpress.ma/actualite/societe-et-regions/biographie-m-mohamed-yacoubi-wali-region-rabat-sale-kenitra-gouverneur-prefecture-rabat/ |language=fr |publisher=MAP Express |accessdate=10 October 2020}}
• Abdelmajid Hankari, 2010–2012{{cite news |date=23 May 2012 |title=De Bonnes Sources |url=https://www.leconomiste.com/article/894753-de-bonnes-sources |language=fr |publisher=L'Économiste |accessdate=10 October 2020}}
• Mohamed Mrabet, 2012–2014
• Abdelkrim Hamdi, 2014–2016{{cite news |date=25 January 2014 |title=Installation du nouveau gouverneur de la préfecture de M’diq-Fnideq |url=http://www.mapexpress.ma/actualite/societe-et-regions/installation-du-nouveau-gouverneur-de-la-prefecture-de-mdiq-fnideq/ |language=fr |publisher=MAP Express |accessdate=10 October 2020}}
• Hassan Bouya, 2016–2018{{cite news |date=9 March 2016 |title=Biographie de M. Hassan Bouya, nommé par SM le Roi gouverneur de la préfecture de M’Diq Fnideq |url=http://www.mapexpress.ma/actualite/societe-et-regions/biographie-m-hassan-bouya-nomme-sm-roi-gouverneur-prefecture-mdiq-fnideq/ |language=fr |publisher=MAP Express |accessdate=10 October 2020}}
• Yassine Jari, 2018–{{cite news |date=31 August 2018 |title=Installation du nouveau gouverneur de la préfecture de M’diq-Fnideq |url=https://maroc-diplomatique.net/installation-du-nouveau-gouverneur-de-la-prefecture-de-mdiq-fnideq/ |language=fr |publisher=Maroc Diplomatique |accessdate=10 October 2020}}

M'diq-Fnideq comprises three urban communes, M'Diq, Fnideq and Martil; and two rural communes, Allyene and Belyounech.

The Tetouan–Fnideq expressway connects Tetouan with M'Diq and Fnideq and was opened in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.bladi.net/ouverture-de-l-autoroute-m-diq.html |title=Ouverture de l’autoroute M’diq-Fnideq |date=21 July 2008 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}

First built in the 1970s, the port at M'Diq was expanded in 2009 and 2012 to accommodate recreational and fishing activities.{{cite web |url=http://www.anp.org.ma/Service/Portmdiq/Pages/Presentation.aspx |title=Port de M’diq – Présentation |language=fr |publisher=Agence Nationale des Ports |accessdate=21 February 2017}} In 2012 it ranked third by tonnage of fish landed among fishing ports in Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima.{{cite web |url=http://www.pncl.gov.ma/fr/LesCollectivit%C3%A9sterritoriales/Documents/MONOGRAPHIE%20DE%20LA%20REGION%20DE%20TANGER%20TETOUAN_fr.pdf |title=La Région de Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima: Monographie générale |language=fr |publisher=Ministry of the Interior |year=2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}

From 1918 to 1958, a railway connecting Tetouan and Ceuta ran through M'diq and Fnideq.{{cite web |url=http://www.spanishrailway.com/2012/03/23/ferrocarril-de-ceuta-a-tetuan-protectorado-occidental-de-marruecos/ |title=Ferrocarril de Ceuta a Tetuán Protectorado Occidental de Marruecos |language=es |date=23 March 2012 |accessdate=21 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215100730/http://www.spanishrailway.com/2012/03/23/ferrocarril-de-ceuta-a-tetuan-protectorado-occidental-de-marruecos/ |archive-date=15 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}

The Smir Dam, located west of M'diq, was built in 1991. It has a capacity of 40.7 million cubic metres and supplies potable and industrial water to the prefecture.

Three of the eleven schools affiliated with Abdelmalek Essaâdi University are located in Martil: the Poly-disciplinary Faculty, the École Normale Supérieure, and the Faculty of Letters and Humanities.

The prefecture has two hospitals at M'diq and Fnideq.

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