[3] Bab Dekkakin dates from the original Marinid foundation in 1276 and was part of the main northern entrance to the city.

[2][3][5] Its layout was highly defensive and it originally had a bent entrance (forcing attackers to turn multiple corners when passing through it).

On the north side of Bab Dekkakin, the New Mechouar, larger than the old one, was created either by the Alaouite Sultan Moulay Muhammad ibn Abdallah (Mohammed III) during his reign (1757-1790)[5] or by the later Alaouite sultan Moulay Hassan (ruled 1873-1894) who is credited with expanding the palace to its current size.

[5][4] In particular, the gate's central arch was opened up to provide a straight or direct passage across it instead of the original bent entrance, in order to facilitate circulation (similar to what was later done to Bab Semmarine too).

[4] The overall form of the gate, however, including the massive towers flanking it, appear to be original from the Marinid period.

[2]: 267 Today, the gate also serves as a backdrop for performances taking place inside the New Mechouar during the annual World Sacred Music Festival.

The gate is made of masonry stone and brick and set between two pairs of massive square towers that are indicative of Marinid military architecture.

[3][6] The interior passage of the gate is composed of several horseshoe archways arranged at the thresholds of three sequential chambers.