What's the biggest scam to avoid in Rabat?

Petit taxi 'broken meter' — drivers routinely refuse the meter for tourists. Always insist 'avec le compteur, s'il vous plaît' or walk to the next taxi (there's always another within 30 seconds). Short central rides are 10-20 MAD; airport-to-centre is 150-200 MAD metered. Other recurring patterns: faux-guide pressure at the Kasbah des Oudayas entrance demanding 50-150 MAD after a 'tour' of the easily-navigated blue-and-white lanes; 'free henna' grabbers on the Medina edge who paint your hand then demand 200-500 MAD; and train-ticket touts outside Rabat Ville selling old or used tickets (buy only from the ONCF counter or app).

Common Tourist Scams in Rabat (and How to Avoid Them)

By The Kakapo Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-05-06 · Part of the Rabat safety guide

Scams — gentler than Marrakech, but the same playbook

Rabat's tourist-scam volume is genuinely lower than Marrakech or Fez. But the same patterns operate around the Kasbah, the Medina entrance on Rue Souika, and the train station (Rabat Ville).

Faux-guide pressure at Kasbah des Oudayas entrance: a young man offers to "show you the way" through the blue-and-white lanes (which are signposted). Tip pressure at the end is €5-15. Decline politely; the Kasbah is small and easy to navigate.
"Free henna" outside the Medina: a woman grabs your hand, paints a design, then demands MAD 200-500. Walk past with hands in pockets.
Petits taxis "broken meter": insist on the meter ("compteur s'il vous plaît"). If they refuse, walk to the next one — there's always another within 30 seconds in central Rabat. A short central ride is MAD 10-20; airport-to-centre is MAD 150-200 metered.
"Special price for you" carpet shop: less aggressive in Rabat than Fez but exists. Real fixed-price options are at Ensemble Artisanal (government-licensed cooperative).
Photo charge: if you photograph a snake-charmer, water-seller in traditional costume, or anyone working in costume — they'll expect MAD 10-20. Either negotiate first or don't photograph.
ATM skimming: rare in Rabat. Use machines inside bank branches (Attijariwafa, BMCE, Banque Populaire) over freestanding street ATMs.
Train ticket touts at Rabat Ville: only buy from the ONCF counter or via the official app. "Discount" tickets from people outside are old/used tickets.

FAQ

What's the biggest scam to avoid in Rabat?: Petit taxi 'broken meter' — drivers routinely refuse the meter for tourists. Always insist 'avec le compteur, s'il vous plaît' or walk to the next taxi (there's always another within 30 seconds). Short central rides are 10-20 MAD; airport-to-centre is 150-200 MAD metered. Other recurring patterns: faux-guide pressure at the Kasbah des Oudayas entrance demanding 50-150 MAD after a 'tour' of the easily-navigated blue-and-white lanes; 'free henna' grabbers on the Medina edge who paint your hand then demand 200-500 MAD; and train-ticket touts outside Rabat Ville selling old or used tickets (buy only from the ONCF counter or app).

Read the full Rabat safety guide — score breakdown, every neighbourhood, all 4 sources →

Live Rabat safety score (updates daily) →

Sources

Scores are the Kakapo Safety Index — compiled from government travel advisories and public crime, health and transit data. All data sources.