Al Hoceima is a city on the northern edge of the Rif Mountains and on the Mediterranean coast. It's a known tourist destination despite its small size. It is characterised by its shining sandy beaches like Cala Iris, Bades, Torres, Quemado, and Tala Youssef, and its mountainous rocky areas. It has a population of about 57,000 people.

The population in this area belongs predominantly to the ethnic group of Berbers.

The region was part of Spanish Morocco from 1912 to 1956. The native Berbers declared their independence in 1920 and founded the Rif Republic. Their capital was the small town of Ajdir, today a suburb of Al Hoceima. However, the Spaniards did not recognise the new state and fought it violently with the help of French. In this war Spain used mustard gas bombs on a massive scale, contrary to international law. The effects are still being felt today: the area has far more cases of lung cancer than the national average. In 1926 Villa Sanjurjo was founded as a Spanish outpost, from which today's Al Hoceima has developed.

After Morocco gained its independence in 1955, Al Hoceima quickly developed and the Moroccan government changed its name from the Spanish Villa Alhucemas to Al Hoceima.

The three Alhucemas Islands, which lie just a few hundred meters off the coast of Al Hoceima, still belong to Spain today. There is a Spanish military base there, but no permanent population.