It is my understanding that Morocco has a "closed" currency system, whereby one cannot acquire Dirhams outside of Morocco. Thus, for example, I cannot order some Dirhams through my bank in America as I usually do Pounds or Euros. However, I note that there is a web site called "Currency Exchange International" that claims they can get you some Moroccan Dirhams outside of Morocco. Is this legal, and if so how? Has anyone ever used them before?
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7777 posts
I haven’t used them. For our trip in 2019, our Marrakech riad, Dar Kawa, arranged for us to be picked up at the airport, so we didn’t need cash for a taxi. Once in Marrakech, we got dirham from an ATM just outside of the Blue Gate, with no add-on fees.
We hired a tour company, Desert Majesty, for a several-night desert tour, and, maybe ironically, they wanted to be paid in U.S. dollars, which had to be pristine and not marked on or too wrinkled. We brought lots of dollars in a moneybelt for that.
Posted by
OP
14 posts
I emailed CEI directly to find out how they are able to exchange Dirhams, and this was their response:
"While the currency is restricted, there are maximum amounts that are allowed to be exported and/or imported. Over time, these exports fill the international currency market, allowing for consumer trades."
So, extra bank notes sloshing around the world get collected and sold. I don't know what their exchange rates are though.