Moulay Ismail ibn Sharif, born around 1645 in Sijilmassa and died on 22 March 1727 at Meknes, was an Arab Sultan of Morocco from 1672–1727, as the second ruler of the Alaouite dynasty. He was the seventh son of Moulay Sharif and was governor of the Kingdom of Fez and the north of Morocco from 1667 until the death of his half-brother, Sultan Moulay Rashid in 1672.

Sultan Moulay Ismail had huge passion for horses. The Royal Stables of Meknes are a feat of ingenuity. They used to provide stabling for 12,000 royal horses. Even more incredible, each horse had its own groom and a slave who made sure that all of its needs were met and that its stable was kept extremely clean. It is said that Moulay Ismail was fanatical about his horses with all 12,000 of them treated better than even his prized harem.