Famous Moroccan Men

Ibn Battuta was a Berber-Moroccan explorer and scholar who traveled extensively, visiting most of the Old World over a period of three decades. He is one of the most traveled explorers in history. After returning home, Ibn Battuta dictated an account of his journeys, which is simply referred to as The Rihla.

Moroccan-Dutch kickboxer Badr Hari, also known as Bad Boy and The Golden Boy, has won the K-1 Heavyweight and Showtime Heavyweight championships. He represented the Netherlands until his loss to Stefan Leko, after which he began playing for Morocco, due to aggressive criticism from his Dutch fans.

Moroccan-American rapper French Montana is best known for his tracks Unforgettable and Choppa Choppa Down. He was initially an independent artist and founded Coke Boys Records and Cocaine City Records. He later joined the labels of Puff Daddy and Rick Ross. He is also known for dating Khloe Kardashian.

Dutch footballer Hakim Ziyech, or The Wizard, now represents Chelsea as an attacking midfielder/winger. After beginning his senior career with Heerenveen, he had a successful stint with Ajax, winning titles such as the Eredivisie with them. After representing the Dutch youth teams earlier, he now plays for the Moroccan national team.

Moroccan former middle-distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj is a four-time 1500m world champion. The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador became the second athlete to win both the 1500m and 5000m titles in the same Olympics. He won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year thrice and holds many indoor and outdoor records.

Mohammed VI of Morocco is the present King of Morocco. He ascended to the throne in 1999. His father was King Hassan II. Hailing from the Alaouite dynasty, Mohammed VI well-educated man with a Ph.D. in law with distinction. It is alleged that corruption is rampant in his court, and he is criticized for his extravagant lifestyle.  

Moroccan-born scientist Moncef Slaoui completed his doctoral studies in Belgium and the moved to the US for further research at Harvard. In his career of almost 3 decades at GlaxoSmithKline, he oversaw the development of many vaccines. He later headed Operation Warp Speed, the US government’s initiative to develop COVID-19 vaccines.

RedOne is a Moroccan-Swedish record producer, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is credited with founding his own record label, RedOne Records. Over the years, he has collaborated with popular personalities like Lady Gaga, Akon, Nicki Minaj, Michael Jackson, and Jennifer Lopez among many other high-profile artists. He has several prestigious awards under his belt, including three Grammy Awards.

Gad Elmaleh is a Moroccan-Canadian stand-up comedian and actor. He studied drama at Cours Florent under the tutelage of prominent coach Isabelle Nanty. He began his career with one-man shows and eventually ventured into TV and cinema as well. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. 

Nordin Amrabat is a Dutch-born Moroccan football player. After representing the Dutch national team at youth levels, Amrabat went on to play for the Morocco national team from 2011 to 2019. He played for Morocco in important tournaments like Africa Cup of Nations and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Nordin Amrabat currently plays for AEK Athens.

Michel Qissi is a Moroccan-Belgian actor who achieved fame for his portrayal of Tong Po in the popular 1989 American martial arts film, Kickboxer. An exponent of boxing, Shōtōkan Karate, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, Qissi is known for his collaboration with Jean-Claude van Damme, whom he befriended at an early age.

Jamal Ben Saddik is a Moroccan-Belgian kickboxer best known for his association with his current promotion Glory, where he competes in the heavyweight division. He achieved popularity in 2018, when he won the Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament. In August 2022, Jamal Ben Saddik was ranked second in the official heavyweight rankings of the promotion.  

Mordechai Vanunu is an Israeli peace activist and former nuclear technician. In 1986, he revealed details of Israel's nuclear weapons program to the British press and was subsequently imprisoned for 18 years. Internationally, he is known as a whistle-blower, while in Israel, he is considered a traitor. He was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1987.   

Moroccan footballer Nabil Dirar, who plays as a winger, moved to Belgium as a teenager and started his senior football career with the Belgian club Diegem Sport. Though he wished to represent the Belgian national team, he was ineligible due to his participation in the Morocco U23 team.

Adel Taarabt is a Moroccan football player who currently plays for the Morocco national team and the popular Portuguese club Benfica. He has also played for other popular teams like Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, and AC Milan.

Omar El Kaddouri is a professional football player who plays as a midfielder for the Morocco national football team. Born in Belgium, El Kaddouri represented the Belgium team at the youth level before playing for Morocco. Currently an important player for PAOK FC, Omar El Kaddouri has also been a part of other popular clubs like Brescia and Napoli.