Preparations for the third edition of the "Sea and Desert" festival, scheduled for 27 February in Dakhla, were at the centre of a meeting held this week in the presence of members of the organising committee and representatives from several sectors.

This meeting, chaired by the Wali of the Oued Eddahab-Lagouira region, provided an opportunity to address several priority issues, notably regarding the theme of this edition, the layout and equipment of the three sites intended to host the event (Oum Labouir, Al-Mountazah regional park, and the Hassan II public square), intersectoral coordination, and an assessment of the second edition.

Participants in this meeting debated a list of 16 proposals for the theme before deciding on the motto: "Man and the territory: development challenges". A formula that should be validated or modified during a similar meeting scheduled for next week. The current meeting highlighted the need to accelerate and combine efforts within the framework of a participatory action, based on consultation and mutual aid between the different sectors, in order to ensure the necessary conditions and means for the success of this artistic event.

The assessment of the second edition highlighted the international reach acquired by the event, its success, and its impact on the local development process, while also noting certain difficulties encountered during the previous edition.

In order to facilitate the work and accelerate preparations for the third edition, scheduled for three days starting on 27 February, intersectoral sub-committees were created to support the actions of the organising committee.

The two previous editions of the "Sea and Desert" Festival were marked by a series of artistic, cultural, sporting, and economic activities (artistic evenings, camel races, poetry tent, water sports competitions, commercial exhibitions...). It saw the participation of great Moroccan and foreign singers.

Recall that the second edition of the festival was held under the theme "Exchanges, creativity, and sustainable development".

While it was enhanced by the participation of prestigious names from the international, national, and local scenes, namely Bleu Mogador, Daby Toure, Desert Rebet, DJ Key, Kazem Saher, and Najat Aatabou, this edition anticipates the participation of equally famous artists such as Faudel and Abdallah Rouiji.