<p>Soil loss due to water erosion is a significant environmental concern in many regions of the world. Numerous empirical models have been developed to identify areas vulnerable to this phenomenon. However, these models require extensive datasets that are derived from local measurements. Because such data are often unavailable, large areas remain unassessed for soil erosion risk. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of freely available global datasets for assessing soil erosion in regions where ground-measured data are lacking. It assessed soil erosion in the Zegota Watershed and adjacent basins in the Prerif region of Morocco using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model. The results indicate that 55% of the study area experiences soil loss of less than 1 t/ha/yr. In comparison, 2% of the area loses more than 10 t/ha/yr, particularly in the El Botmat, Ben Halima, Zegota, and Kroumane watersheds. These erosion rates align with findings from previous studies based on local data south of the region and are lower than those in other parts of the Rif. The analysis revealed that soil erosion in the study area was primarily influenced by topography, followed by rainfall erosivity and support practice factors. In contrast, soil erodibility and cover management factors had a weaker impact.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>