Ceuta

Ceuta (UK: , US: ; Spanish:; Moroccan Arabic: سَبْتَة, romanized: Sabtah) is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. Bordered by Morocco, it lies between the and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta is one of the special territories of members of the European Economic Area: it is a part of the Schengen area with the specific provisions such as border checks between Ceuta and European Spain.

Phoenicians founded a settlement in the La Almina Peninsula, which had continuity under Roman and Byzantine rule (Septem Fratres). It was annexed to the early caliphates upon the Islamic conquest of the Maghreb, only to be destroyed during the Berber Revolt. It was rebuilt in the ninth century by Majkasa Ghomaras. For much of the Middle Ages, regional powers north and south of the Strait of Gibraltar vied for control over Ceuta, which was a key contested port in the so-called Battle of the Strait. In 1415, it was annexed to the Kingdom of Portugal. After 1580, it was annexed by the Hispanic Monarchy, and the city chose to remain under Spanish authority after 1640. Ceuta belonged to the Spanish province of Cádiz as a regular municipality until the passage of its Statute of Autonomy in March 1995, when it became an autonomous city.

Along with the Canary Islands, Ceuta was classified as a free port before Spain joined the European Union. Its population is predominantly Spanish Christians and Arab Muslims, with a small minority of Sephardic Jews, and Sindhi Hindus from pre-partition India. Spanish is the official language of Ceuta. Darija Arabic (Ceuta Arabic dialect) is also widely spoken.