Quick answer. At Mohammed V International (CMN), get your first dirhams on arrival, because the dirham is a closed currency you cannot buy before you fly. Use an Attijariwafa or BMCE (Bank of Africa) ATM in arrivals; they give the interbank rate but, since January 2026, every Moroccan bank charges a flat ~MAD 35 foreign-card fee and caps each withdrawal low (often MAD 2,000), so withdraw the maximum. The licensed Bank Al-Maghrib bureau de change in the hall is genuinely fair if you brought clean USD or EUR. Morocco has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a no-FX-fee card (Wise, Schwab) is the cleaner tool, and decline DCC every time. To the city (about 30 km): the ONCF train runs from beneath Terminal 1 to Casa-Voyageurs in about 45 minutes for MAD 50. Spend or reconvert your dirhams before you leave Morocco.
Where to get Moroccan Dirhams at CMN
The key Mohammed V fact is that the dirham is closed (so you get it on arrival), every bank now adds a flat ~MAD 35 fee with a low cap (so withdraw the maximum), and the licensed airport bureau de change is a fair alternative. The cost math below assumes you withdraw or exchange the equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Bank Al-Maghrib bureau (CMN, clean USD/EUR) | Airport main hall | Fair, regulated official rate | ~$98-99 |
| Attijariwafa / BMCE ATM (max withdrawal) | Arrivals | Interbank + flat ~MAD 35 fee, low cap | ~$96-97 + home-bank fee |
| Bank ATM + Schwab (fee refunded) | Arrivals, city | Interbank, MAD 35 refunded by Schwab | ~$99-100 |
| Unlicensed medina exchange tout | Medina, tourist strips | 5-15% spread, short-change risk | ~$85-92 |
| Accepting DCC at any machine | Anywhere | +4-12% if you choose 'charge in USD/EUR' | ~$86-94 |
Where to find the Attijariwafa and BMCE ATMs at Mohammed V (CMN)
Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), about 30 km southeast of Casablanca, is Morocco's main gateway. The single most important fact here is that the dirham is a closed currency: you cannot legally buy it before you fly and no US bank stocks it, so your first dirhams must come from the airport, either an ATM or the exchange counter. In arrivals you will find Attijariwafa Bank, BMCE (now Bank of Africa), and Banque Populaire ATMs that dispense dirhams at the interbank rate, but as of January 2026 every Moroccan bank charges a flat foreign-card fee of about MAD 35 and caps each withdrawal low (commonly MAD 2,000), so withdraw the maximum to spread the fee. Unusually, the licensed Bank Al-Maghrib bureau de change in the main hall is fair, so if you brought clean USD or EUR notes, changing them there is a reasonable alternative. Morocco has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a BoA card pays its 3% non-network fee on top. Decline DCC, choose dirhams, take the ONCF train into the city, and remember to spend or reconvert your dirhams before you leave, since you cannot take them out.
Terminal 1 (main terminal)
The main terminal for Royal Air Maroc (the home carrier) and most international flights, including the major European, Gulf, and US connections. The ONCF train station sits directly beneath Terminal 1
In the arrivals hall, look for an Attijariwafa, BMCE (Bank of Africa), or Banque Populaire ATM; they dispense dirhams at the interbank rate plus the flat ~MAD 35 fee and cap each pull low, so withdraw the maximum. The licensed Bank Al-Maghrib bureau de change here is a fair alternative for clean USD or EUR. Decline DCC, choose dirhams, then take the escalators down to the ONCF train station beneath the terminal
Terminal 2
Additional international and low-cost services. Connected to Terminal 1 within the same complex; the train station serves both via Terminal 1
The same bank ATMs (Attijariwafa, BMCE, Banque Populaire) are available, at the interbank rate plus the flat ~MAD 35 fee. Use a bank machine or the licensed bureau, decline DCC, choose Moroccan dirhams, and walk through to Terminal 1 for the ONCF train
Do you actually need cash at Mohammed V International (CMN)?
Yes, more than in Europe. Morocco is cash-first and the dirham is closed, so you arrive without cash and get it here. Here is what works, and where dirham cash is essential:
ONCF train (Al Bidaoui, to Casa-Voyageurs) (MAD 50 to Casa-Voyageurs): Cheapest and easiest, about 45 min from the station beneath Terminal 1, roughly hourly until ~22:50. MAD 60 onward to Casa-Port. Buy at the station; connect to the Casablanca tram or a petit taxi.
Grand taxi (white) (~MAD 250-350 to the city): The white long-distance taxis from the airport rank; agree the fare first and carry dirhams, as they do not take cards.
Onward ONCF trains (Varies): From Casa-Voyageurs, direct ONCF and Al Boraq high-speed trains reach Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, and Fez. Pay by card at the station.
Petit taxi (red, in-city only) (Metered, city only): The small red petit taxis operate within Casablanca, not the airport run; cash only, insist on the meter.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Mohammed V International (CMN) to Casablanca?
No. ONCF train (Al Bidaoui, to Casa-Voyageurs) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order Moroccan Dirhams before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Moroccan Dirhams to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 Moroccan Dirhams for taxis and tips on day one.
Can I get dirhams before I arrive in Morocco?
No. The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency, which means it cannot legally be bought or sold outside Morocco, and no US bank or currency service will sell you dirhams in advance. You get your first dirhams on arrival, either from a bank ATM in the CMN arrivals hall or by changing clean USD or EUR cash at the licensed airport bureau de change. The flip side of the same rule: spend your dirhams or change them back before you leave Morocco, because you cannot take them home or exchange them once you have departed.
How much do Morocco airport ATMs charge foreign cards?
Since January 2026, every Moroccan bank charges a flat foreign-card withdrawal fee of about MAD 35, on top of the interbank rate. Before 2026 a couple of banks were free, but that is no longer the case. The machines also cap each withdrawal low, commonly MAD 2,000 per transaction (a few banks allow more), so the way to minimize the flat fee is to withdraw the maximum each time. A Charles Schwab card refunds the MAD 35 worldwide. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and choose Moroccan dirhams.
Should I use the airport ATM or the bureau de change?
Both are reasonable at CMN, which is unusual. The Attijariwafa, BMCE, and Banque Populaire ATMs in arrivals give the interbank rate plus the ~MAD 35 flat fee. The licensed Bank Al-Maghrib bureau de change in the main hall is genuinely fair (the official rate is regulated, so it does not vary much), so if you brought clean, new USD or EUR notes, changing a chunk there avoids the per-transaction ATM fee and cap. A common plan is to change enough cash at the airport bureau for the first day or two, then top up at bank ATMs in the city.
Is there a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner in Morocco?
No. None of the Moroccan banks (Attijariwafa, Banque Populaire, BMCE/Bank of Africa, Societe Generale Maroc, Credit Agricole du Maroc) belong to the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance, so a Bank of America debit card pays BoA's standard 3% non-network fee on top of the local ~MAD 35 fee at any Moroccan ATM. There is no fee-free option for BoA cards here. A no-foreign-transaction-fee card such as Wise or Charles Schwab is cleaner, and Schwab refunds the MAD 35 operator fee.
How do I get from Mohammed V airport to Casablanca?
The ONCF train is the cheapest and easiest option: the Al Bidaoui service runs from a station directly beneath Terminal 1 to Casa-Voyageurs in about 45 minutes for MAD 50 in second class (MAD 60 onward to Casa-Port), roughly hourly from early morning to about 22:50. Buy a ticket at the station. The alternative is a grand taxi (the white shared/long-distance taxis) from the rank, which costs more and should be agreed or metered first; carry dirhams for it. The train takes cash or card at the station, so a small dirham float covers you.
Why does the dirham being closed matter for my trip?
Two practical consequences. First, you cannot arrive with dirhams, so plan to get cash at the airport on landing (ATM or the fair bureau de change), and a card for hotels and modern restaurants. Second, you must use up or reconvert your dirhams before leaving Morocco, since you cannot legally export them and they are hard to exchange abroad. Keep your exchange receipts, do not over-withdraw near the end of your trip, and change any leftover dirhams back to USD or EUR at a bank or bureau before your flight home.