Cairo vs Marrakesh

Cairo leads Marrakesh by 4 points on the CIRA Index, 56 to 52. Cairo grades better on 8 measures, Marrakesh on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Cairo 56, Marrakesh 52
• OECD: Cairo 57, Marrakesh 50
• UN Tourism: Cairo 63, Marrakesh 56
• UNDRR: Cairo 37, Marrakesh 52

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Cairo 92, Marrakesh 63
• Economy and jobs: Cairo 67, Marrakesh 42
• Climate and hazards: Cairo 15, Marrakesh 35
• Water and environment: Cairo 50, Marrakesh 58
• Community and housing: Cairo 63, Marrakesh 38
• Access and continuity: Cairo 50, Marrakesh 58

Where Cairo is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 28.2 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Domestic share of nights: 37.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
• Largest foreign market: 10 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Egypt Tourism Statistics, 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 9.9 nights per visitor (country figure) (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Road Genius Egypt Tourism Statistics, 2024). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 8 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 6.8 % of the labour force (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• Income per head: 20,204 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 15,000 and 30,000: grade 1/4.
• Short-let density: 0.3 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (region figure) (AirDNA & CAPMAS (Egypt Census of Population and Housing), 2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.

Where Marrakesh is stronger

• Tropical nights: 64 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Country disaster risk: 4.3 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 3.5 and 5: grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (ReliefWeb / International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), 2023-2026). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Egypt: #63 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Morocco: #70 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Cairo in full · Marrakesh in full

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