Hiring a bodyguard in Morocco: what to expect

A provider needs three things first: who is to be protected, where, and when. Then come the details that shape the arrangement: the day-by-day programme, the places you will visit, how you will travel, how visible you want the protection to be, and what prompted the request. A provider who quotes a price before asking any of this is guessing.

Good close protection is mostly preparation: routes and alternatives, the entrances of your hotel and meeting places, the moments when you will be most exposed — arrivals, waits, departures — and the local contacts that matter. By the time you arrive, the team should already know the ground.

Morocco is not one setting. In Marrakech, the medina is walked and many riads have no vehicle access, so journeys are split into segments — see close protection in Marrakech. In Casablanca the exposure is usually routine: the same offices and the same journeys every day — see close protection in Casablanca.

• The team: how many people, and each person's role.
• Vehicles and drivers, if you will be travelling.
• Routes and the daily schedule.
• One named point of contact for any change.
• A clear price, with what is and is not included.

This written plan is your best check that the provider has understood your trip. Correct it before the assignment starts; once agreed, everyone works from it.

Your bodyguard follows the plan and stays as discreet as the situation allows. When the programme changes — a meeting moves, a dinner is added — the new route is prepared before it is used. At the end, a short debrief covers what worked and what to change for your next visit.

• Who is my point of contact before and during the trip?
• Will I receive the arrangement in writing before it starts?
• How do you handle a change of plan on the day?
• What exactly does the price include?

Be wary of promises that cannot be checked, such as 'zero risk' or an instant response anywhere. Clear answers to simple questions are a better sign.

The full service is described on our bodyguard and close protection page. For business trips, see executive protection; for travel advice, read staying safe on a business trip to Morocco. When you are ready, tell us about your trip.