Casablanca is the largest city in the Maghreb region and the eighth-largest in the Arab world. Casablanca has Morocco's chief port and one of the largest financial centres in Africa.

Located on Morocco's Atlantic coast, Casablanca came to prominence as one of the most important cities of the Berber Barghawata kingdom in the mid-8th century. In the 14th century, it was used as a key port by the Merinids; and in the 15th century, it became known as a safe harbour pirate. Casablanca came under Portuguese control shortly afterwards in 1755, the town was largely destroyed by an earthquake. It was rebuilt by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah and was colonised in the 20th century by the French.