Oriental (Morocco)

For other uses, see Orient (disambiguation).

Egypt and Saudi Arabia also have provinces called Ash-Sharqīyah. See Sharqia Governorate and Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

Oriental ⵜⴰⴳⵎⵓⴹⴰⵏⵜ الجهة الشرقية
Region
Jebel Tamejout - Grotte du Chameau (Zegzel)
Coordinates:
Country	Morocco
Capital	Oujda
Government
• Wali (Governor)	Mohamed Mhidia
• President	Abdenbi Bioui
Area
• Total	82,900 km2 (32,000 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• Total	2,314,346
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)

Oriental (Berber: ⵜⴰⴳⵎⵓⴹⴰⵏⵜ, Tagmuḍant; Arabic: الجهة الشرقية; French: Oriental) is one of the twelve regions of Morocco, located in the northeastern part of the country. It covers an area of 82,900 km² and has a population of 2,314,346 (2014 census).

The capital and the largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador. The region includes 7 provinces and one perfecture. The current governor of the region is Abdelfettah El Houmam.

The majority of the population of Oriental speak the Berber language (Tamazight). Tarifit is predominantly spoken in the north (including Ait Iznassen), Eastern Middle Atlas Tamazight in the south east and Figuig Tamazight in the south western area of Oriental. Moroccan Arabic is mostly spoken in the middle of Oriental, especially in the Oujda and Jerada areas.

Etymology

The name Oriental is a French word for "eastern", and comes directly from the Latin orientalis, "of the east", being that the region is located in the east of Morocco. The name Tagmuḍant (from agmuḍan) is a direct translation from the French word oriental in the Berber Language.

Geography

It is situated in the northeastern part of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The regions of Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate, Fès-Boulemane and Meknès-Tafilalet lie to its west, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region. In 2015, Oriental was expanded to include Guercif Province

The region is made up into the following prefectures and provinces:

• Berkane Province
• Driouch Province
• Figuig Province
• Guercif Province
• Jerada Province
• Nador Province
• Oujda-Angad Perfecture
• Taourirt Province

Municipalities by population (2014)

Main square of Oujda, the regional capital and largest city.

Name	Province/Perfecture	Population (2014)
Oujda	Oujda-Angad	494,252
Nador	Nador Province	161,726
Berkane	Berkane Province	109,237
Taourirt	Taourirt Province	103,398
Beni Ensar / Aït Nsar	Nador Province	56,582
Al Aaroui	Nador Province	47,599
Jerada	Jerada Province	43,506
El Aioun Sidi Mellouk	Taourirt Province	41,832
Bouarg	Nador Province	37,737
Zaio	Nador Province	35,806
Zeghanghane	Nador Province	34,025
Sidi Slimane Echcharraa	Berkane Province	30,202
Bouarfa	Figuig Province	28,846
Bni Chiker	Nador Province	26,884
Oulad Settout	Nador Province	23,218
Selouane	Nador Province	21,570
Boughriba	Berkane Province	20,513
Ahfir	Berkane Province	19,630
Arekmane	Nador Province	18,490
Mtalssa	Driouch Province	16,787
Talsint	Figuig Province	16,166
Bni Tadjite	Figuig Province	16,149
Zegzel	Berkane Province	16,137
Tendrara	Figuig Province	15,390
Midar	Driouch Province	15,021
Driouch	Driouch Province	14,741
Ben Taieb	Driouch Province	14,257
Temsamane	Driouch Province	13,920
Ain Bni Mathar	Jerada Province	13,526
Figuig	Figuig Province	12,516

External links

• Oriental web portal in French
• Oujda entry in lexicorient
• Figuig in English, French and Arab