Oracle has launched a new public cloud region in Casablanca, a move that strengthens its presence in Africa and aims to gain traction in a market where data sovereignty, low latency, and local deployment of AI services are becoming increasingly key factors. The company officially announced the opening on April 7, 2026, although Oracle’s technical documentation shows that the Morocco West (Casablanca) region has been listed as available since February 20, 2026.
The new region is identified as af-casablanca-1, with the code LEJ, and features a single availability domain, according to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure’s release notes and official documentation. Oracle also presents it as the first public hyper-scale region in North Africa, a claim supported by the Moroccan government in the investment memorandum signed in 2024.
Deployment is supported by N+ONE Datacenters as the local hosting partner. Oracle specifically mentions this in its announcement, while N+ONE describes itself as a neutral operator based in Casablanca, active since 2008, with recent milestones including Tier III certifications, expansion to Settat, and a multi-cloud partnership strategy culminating in its first agreement with a hyper-scale provider in 2024.
More than a local launch: a regional commitment
For Oracle, the Casablanca region isn’t just another piece of its global map. The company ties it to its distributed cloud strategy and presents it as an infrastructure designed for Moroccan companies, startups, and government agencies to run workloads in the cloud without taking data out of the country—especially relevant for regulated sectors and public organizations. Oracle claims this approach facilitates compliance and enhances the ability to work with data within national borders.
The context also highlights the importance of this move. In May 2024, Oracle signed a memorandum of understanding with the Moroccan government valued at $140 million over five years, aiming to deploy two public cloud regions in the country, one in Casablanca and the other in Settat. Rabat characterized this agreement as a strategic step to boost the country’s digital competitiveness and position Morocco as a technological hub connecting Europe, the Maghreb, and West Africa.
The second region, currently called Morocco 2, remains marked as “coming soon” on Oracle’s global map. While no specific launch date has been announced, Oracle publicly maintains plans to open it in Settat. If realized, Morocco would be among the few African countries with two Oracle public regions, strengthening its appeal for enterprises seeking local redundancy, disaster recovery, and reduced dependence on remote regions.
What it means for Morocco and North Africa
The introduction of a public cloud region isn’t just “more cloud.” Practically, it allows organizations to deploy services with lower latency, keep data close to end users, and advance projects where data residency is as important as performance. Oracle explicitly links this new region to use cases involving generative AI, analytics, multicloud deployment, and modernization of applications, though actual deployment will depend as always on market adoption rates and service costs.
Geographically, this move also has a competitive dimension. Oracle already operates a region in Johannesburg and has announced another in Nairobi. Casablanca’s new region enables Oracle to cover the northern part of the continent with a public hyper-scale, giving it a strategic advantage in an area where few public cloud regions currently exist, and where many businesses still rely on infrastructure located in Europe or South Africa for certain cloud workloads.
Additionally, this move complements other recent Oracle investments in Morocco. In June 2025, Oracle inaugurated a R&D center in Casablanca, aiming to accelerate innovation in cloud and AI, with plans to employ 1,000 Moroccan professionals. Overall, Morocco’s strategy with Oracle combines infrastructure, talent development, and regional integration—suggesting this isn’t an isolated move but part of a layered regional strategy.
For Morocco, the message is clear: establishing itself as a digital hub for North Africa. For Oracle, the goal appears equally straightforward: strengthen presence in a region with growth potential in cloud computing, where regulation, data localization, and AI present opportunities. It remains to be seen how much actual business Casablanca will attract in upcoming quarters, but this launch already marks a significant milestone in Africa’s cloud landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Oracle cloud region in Casablanca officially launched?
Oracle announced its official opening on April 7, 2026, though technical notes show the region was available since February 20, 2026.
What is the official technical name of Oracle’s new region in Morocco?
Its official name is Morocco West (Casablanca), with identifier af-casablanca-1 and code LEJ.
Who is hosting the Oracle cloud region in Casablanca?
The local hosting partner is N+ONE Datacenters, a Moroccan operator based in Casablanca with additional facilities in Settat.
Will there be a second Oracle region in Morocco?
Yes, Oracle has announced a second region in Settat, which is currently marked as “coming soon” on its global map.