Maroc Soir Group
Founded during the French protectorate era under the name Mas Presse, Maroc Soir Group is the oldest media publishing house in Morocco, headquartered in Casablanca. The company was nationalized in 1971 and renamed Maroc Soir, marking its transformation into a state-aligned media enterprise. Today, it publishes several newspapers, including the French-language Le Matin, Arabic-language Assahra Al Maghribiya, and Maroc Soir, though Le Matin remains the flagship title with the widest national reach.
Media assets
Print: Le Matin, Assahra Al Maghribiya, Maroc Soir
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
In 2001, Moroccan tycoon Othman Benjelloun acquired Maroc Soir Group, but sold it three years later to its current owner, Othman Al Omeir. Al Omeir is a Saudi media mogul with close ties to King Salman of Saudi Arabia and King Mohammed VI of Morocco. A former editor-in-chief of Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Al Omeir is also the founder of the digital media outlet Elaph. His acquisition of Maroc Soir positioned the group within a transnational elite media network with strong political affiliations in both Morocco and the Gulf region.
As of 2025, there have been no public disclosures of changes in the group’s ownership or board structure, and Al Omeir continues to maintain ultimate control.
Mohammed Haitami is the Chairman and CEO of Maroc-Soir SA, as well as Director of Publications. He took the helm in 2013 and continues to lead the group’s editorial and commercial strategy. Known for his close alignment with the Moroccan establishment, Haitami plays a central role in maintaining the group’s pro-government editorial stance. Prior to joining Maroc Soir, he held senior roles in Moroccan state media and communication.
Source of funding and budget
According to media professionals and analysts interviewed in May 2024 and March 2025, Maroc Soir Group derives the majority of its revenues from advertising and print sales. Advertising accounts for roughly 65% of its income, while copy sales contribute the remaining 35%.
The company does not publish annual financial reports, nor does it disclose revenue breakdowns for individual titles. This opacity makes it difficult to independently assess its commercial sustainability or the extent of any informal state subsidies or preferential advertising contracts.
Editorial independence
Maroc Soir Group—particularly its lead publication Le Matin—is widely regarded as loyal to the Moroccan monarchy. Le Matin is often described in independent assessments as a royalist or pro-government outlet, with a substantial portion of its editorial space dedicated to covering royal events and public appearances. The paper maintains a dedicated section focused exclusively on the activities of King Mohammed VI, often echoing official government narratives without challenge or critical analysis.
This editorial stance is consistent with its ownership structure and longstanding political positioning. While no formal editorial statute has been published, and no independent oversight mechanism exists to ensure editorial autonomy, the group continues to function as a de facto communication arm of the monarchy.
July 2025