Both the two Arab nations have long and traditional friendly relations based on many historical commons. Both Morocco and Saudi Arabia are monarchies ruled by the respective families of the 'Alawis and the Al-Sauds, adhere to Sunni Islam,[1] and their relationship is described as traditionally strong.[2] Both the countries are members of the Arab League. The two countries then experienced hiatus in relations for a year, before the February 2019 Warsaw Conference once again stabilized the relations. In the past, both Morocco and Saudi Arabia led a campaign which successfully made the Arabic language an official language of the United Nations.[3][4]
Contact between the two sides goes back to a long time before the establishment of the first Saudi state, when the sultan of Morocco Ismail bin Sharif sent an important message to the Emir of Mecca Saad bin Zaid.[5] When the reform movement of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab appeared, a message arrived from the HijaztoFez to convey the call of Sheikh Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, and that was during the reign of Sultan Sulayman, who commissioned the scholars of the villagers to respond to the message, so he sent his son Ibrahim at the head of the delegation of pilgrims and scholars to respond to that message. The Moroccan sultan Sulayman was inspired by this Islamic revivalist movement and used his authority to condemn the use of music and dance in religious ceremonies, and banning pilgrimages to saintly shrines and religious festivals, even having the qubba over his father's grave removed in 1812, arguing that it was excessive ornamentation.[6]
Morocco and Saudi Arabia have together taken steps to curb Iranian influence in the Arab world. Morocco and Iran resumed diplomatic relations in 2015,[7] however Morocco cut diplomatic ties with Iran on 1 May 2018 after it supported the separatist Polisario Front in the disputed Western Sahara militarily and financially against Morocco.[8][9] Saudi Arabia is also cautious and hostile of Iran, especially with the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict.[10]
In 2019, both Morocco and Saudi Arabia sent delegations to participate in the February 2019 Warsaw Conference. The conference saw both two nations once again stabilized the relationship to normal, with both denounced Iran together.
Saudi Arabia has typically supported Morocco over the dispute of Western Sahara and doesn't recognize the legitimacy of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.[11] It also supported Morocco by sending economic and military aid during the Western Sahara War (1975–1991).[12] Saudi Arabia also helps fund several projects in the region with support from Moroccan authorities.[13]
In February 2019, Morocco ended its involvement in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, with foreign minister Nasser Bourita citing "developments on the ground" in Yemen, "especially in regards to the humanitarian situation". Saudi state television network Al Arabiya later aired a documentary challenging the Moroccan claim to the Western Sahara. Morocco responded by recalling its ambassador to Saudi Arabia.[14][15] However, ties between the two were enhanced after a few years.[16]
Morocco has taken neutral stance in the conflict, hoping for a better resolution that would benefit Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the former having participated together with Morocco in the anti-Houthi campaign. Morocco even offered to act as a mediator to slow the tensions between the two Gulf Arab states.[19]
Morocco
Saudi Arabia
