No, as a general rule they don’t. Some riads do claim to have one but, in the large majority of such cases, it will turn out to be little more than an ornamental or plunge pool, as opposed to one that is large enough to swim in. The simple reason for this is that most of the city’s 1500 or so riads, or ‘dars’ (the smallest medina houses), are just too small, their patios occupying, as a rule, little more than 50 to 100 sq ms. Thus, where plunge pools have been inserted into such limited spaces there is usually precious little room left for what, traditionally, was always intended to be a small, shady space for relaxation with some exotic shrubs, a central fountain and, perhaps, an orange tree or two.
That said, there are, of course, a few exceptions to the general rule. In every medina one finds, amongst the masses of modest ‘dars’ and small riads hidden away behind the high external walls lining pedestrianised streets and alleyways, a few much larger, grander properties formerly occupied by the professional classes and well to do, even, in a few cases, by members of previous generations of the royal family. In such places the internal patio is large enough for a pool of 10 to 15m while leaving sufficient space for an exotic garden and/or a terraced area for relaxation and al fresco meals.
Les Borjs de la Kasbah is one such property. Created by integrating five ‘dars’ and a couple of riads, it combines the facilities and services of a four-star hotel with the character and charm of a traditional riad. The 10m swimming pool and spa were constructed on the site of a small riad, now a dedicated leisure area.