| Ksar el-Kebir | |
| Native Name: | القصر الكبير |
| Seal Size: | 80 |
| Pushpin Map: | Morocco#Africa |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Morocco |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Morocco |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Larache |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Mohamed Simo |
| Population As Of: | 2014 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 126617 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Rank |
| Population Blank1: | 26th in Morocco |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
| Population Blank2: | Islam |
| Timezone: | WET |
| Utc Offset: | +0 |
| Timezone Dst: | WEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +1 |
| Coordinates: | 34.9989°N -5.9028°W |
| Website: | Official website |
Ksar el-Kebir (Arabic: القصر الكبير|translit=al-Qaṣr al-Kabīr), also known as al-Qasr al-Kabir, is a city in northwestern Morocco, about 160 km north of Rabat, 32 km east of Larache and 110 km south of Tangier. It recorded a population of 126,617 in the 2014 Moroccan census.[1]
The name means "the big castle". The city is located nearby the Loukous river, making El-Ksar-el-Kebir one of Morocco's richest agricultural regions. El-Ksar el-Kebir provides almost 20% of the needed sugar of Morocco.Neighbouring cities and towns include Larache, Chefchaouen, Arbawa and Tateft.
It was first established as a Phoenician colony in the 1st millennium BC. Following the Punic Wars, it came under Roman control with the name Oppidum Novum.[2]
In 1578, King Sebastian of Portugal suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir at the hands of the King Abd al-Malik of Morocco, which ended Portugal's ambitions to invade and Christianize the Maghreb. Both kings died during the battle, as did Abdallah Mohammed, who was allied with Sebastian. The death of King Sebastian started the events which led to the temporary union of the crowns of Portugal and Spain under Philip II of Spain. King Abd al-Malik's victory gave Morocco substantial strength and international prestige.
The city experienced substantial growth with the settling of a critical garrison in 1911 as a part of the Spanish protectorate in Morocco. After Morocco's independence and the Oued el Makhazine reservoir was built by King Hassan II to manage the Loukkos' river regime, the city became an important regional agricultural distribution center.
El-Ksar el-Kebir is reputed for the leading artists, writers, poets and sportsmen on national plane.