Initiated by the Regional Council of Dakhla Oued-Eddahab with the support of the local authorities, and in partnership with the World Association, this congress will serve as a platform for dialogue, debate and exchange of experiences on various themes related to the preservation and conservation of bays and sustainable development, according to a press released issued by the organizers.

The international forum will highlight the region's tourism and economic potential, as well as the efforts made to promote sustainable and inclusive development, said the president of the Dakhla Oued-Eddahab Regional Council, Yenja El Khattat, cited by the press release.

This international conclave will have an African dimension reflecting the vision of Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, aiming to make Dakhla a crossroads for co-development in Africa and the Atlantic region, he added.

Representatives of 44 member bays from different continents are expected in Dakhla. Several other new bays, candidates to join this international network, will also be represented. The conclave brings together representatives of local authorities, elected officials, public and private sector leaders, academics, as well as members of civil society and the media.

This is the second time that this major event is being held in Morocco after the one organized in Agadir in 2004. In addition to Agadir and Al-Hoceima, Dakhla was admitted to the organization of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World in 2019 in Toyama, Japan. During the congress held in Cambodia in 2022, Dakhla was unanimously designated to host this 18th edition.

The agenda of the congress includes the deliberations of the General Assembly of the Association, workshops notably on natural conservation, renewable energies and the South-South and North-South partnership, a forum of African bays, a youth forum, the presentation of the prize for a video competition, as well as a beach clean-up and a series of site visits in Dakhla.

Participants will have the opportunity to discover the natural and economic assets, as well as the charms of the world capital of water sports, renowned for its white sand beaches, dunes and lagoon.

Founded in 1997, the Association of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World strives to preserve and promote the biodiversity of these exceptional natural sites and contribute to the promotion of sustainable tourism. This international network, based in Vannes, France, currently brings together 44 bays from various countries on different continents.