Why did the Ottoman Empire fail to bring Morocco under its rule?

The Ottoman Empire was unable to bring Morocco under its rule primarily because of the emergence of a strong, independent state formed in reaction to external threats, particularly from the Portuguese.12

In the 16th century, the Sa'di dynasty rose to power by leveraging the legitimacy of the sharifs—descendants of the Prophet Muhammad—and aligning with Sufi holy men to lead a jihad against Portuguese incursions. This movement successfully established an independent state that was strong enough to resist Ottoman expansion attempts from Algeria.21

By successfully defending its sovereignty, Morocco became virtually the only Arab country to avoid Ottoman rule. This independence was further solidified in the 17th century under the 'Alawite dynasty, which utilized charismatic leadership and centralized military power to maintain control and preserve the nation's identity as an Islamic monarchy.12