Morocco attaches great value to the Bay of Dakhla

Dakhla will be the venue for the 18th Congress of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Association, to be held between 27 November and 1 December 2024. 

This edition will be under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, which shows the great value that the Kingdom of Morocco attaches to the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region and to the Congress of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Association. 

Atalayar spoke with Yanja El Khattat, President of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region, to discuss the forthcoming Congress of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Association in Dakhla and the benefits and attractions of this region in the south of Morocco. 

Dakhla has been unanimously chosen to host the 18th Congress of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Association. What does it mean for the region to host this international event? 

The holding of the 18th Congress of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Association in the city of Dakhla, capital of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region, is a major event that reflects the global importance of our region, the consolidation of its reputation as a meeting place and the recognition of its ability to organise international events. 

It is also an ideal opportunity to showcase the natural splendour, environmental and economic benefits and characteristics of the Bay of Dakhla, our interest in preserving it and our ambition to achieve sustainable and harmonious development. 

This is the second time Morocco has hosted this congress, after Agadir in 2004, but it is the first time it has been held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. It is an honour, but also a great responsibility, isn't it? 

Certainly, the organisation of this Congress under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God glorify him, is highly symbolic, and is further proof of the special interest and attention that His Majesty the King has for our region, which fills us with honour, but also with responsibility, and drives us to redouble our efforts to create the optimal conditions to ensure the success of the organisation of this event and the influence of our region. 

The Congress brings together representatives of the 44 member bays from 25 countries, other candidate bays, the authorities, public and private managers, the press, etc. How does the Bay of Dakhla present itself to the international community? What are its main strengths? 

The importance of the Bay of Dakhla needs no further demonstration. It is classified nationally as a Site of Biological and Ecological Interest (SIBE) and internationally as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and Important Wetland (RAMSAR site), and since 2014 it has been classified as the world's number one surfing spot. 

It attracts visitors all year round, especially water sports enthusiasts, who are fascinated by the splendour of its exceptional scenery, the beauty of its landscapes and the natural environment where desert and sea combine to form a breathtaking setting well worth a visit. 

In addition to its natural potential, the Dakhla region is distinguished by the diversity of its economic resources in the fields of fishing, tourism, agriculture and renewable energies, which makes it a privileged destination for investors. 

This event goes beyond the local and national framework and will have repercussions on the entire African continent: what role will Dakhla and Morocco play in the development of Africa, particularly its Atlantic coast? 

Thanks to the will of His Majesty the King, God help him, Dakhla has become a meeting place, as evidenced by the multitude of meetings and forums dedicated to Africa and South-South cooperation held in this city, which over time has become a gateway and a platform conducive to the development of partnership relations with other African countries, particularly those of sub-Saharan Africa. 

In this perspective, the sovereign announced the Royal Atlantic Initiative, which aims to consolidate security, peace, stability and prosperity in the Atlantic African States and to promote access by the Sahel States to the Atlantic Ocean. 

The Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region is fully involved in this proactive policy of African cooperation advocated by the Kingdom, which aims to ensure Africa's co-emergence and the creation of synergies that will enable it to take its rightful place on the international stage.

The preservation and sustainable development of the bays is one of the key themes addressed at this congress. In the case of Dakhla, how does this commitment to sustainability fit in with the promotion and development of the tourism sector? 

Aware of the vulnerability of the ecosystem and natural sites of the Bay of Dakhla, which covers an area of 400 km2, the preservation of the ecological balance and the sustainable development of this bay have received special attention from public authorities and local elected representatives in all the socio-economic development plans of the region. 

The bay is classified as a site of biological and ecological interest, an important bird conservation area and an important wetland. It is an ideal habitat for fish and crustacean species, including endemic species. It is also an important wintering and breeding site for many bird species and a stopover for most Palearctic waterbirds. 

The bay is also known for its mammal populations and is an excellent location for the development of aquaculture activities, which have recently experienced remarkable growth. 

This variety of natural and scenic assets, combined with other socio-cultural attractions, have gradually encouraged the development of tourism in the region, and our ambition is to make this sector a lever for development by promoting sustainable ecotourism that respects the environmental balance and generates high added value, with the hope that in the coming years the tourist destination of Dakhla will become one of the world's leading tourist centres in this field. 

According to the association's statutes, it accepts bays that benefit from protection measures, exceptional flora and fauna, attractive natural areas, local and national reputation and economic potential. What are the values that have enabled Dakhla to become a member of the association? 

The admission of the Bay of Dakhla as a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World was certainly not by chance. It was based on the splendid natural potential mentioned above, but also on the interest shown by the public authorities and local councillors in the conservation and sustainable development of this site, and on the desire expressed on numerous occasions to preserve its biodiversity and enhance its natural and socio-cultural resources. 

What new renewable energy projects are planned for the future? 

The Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, rich in renewable resources and with considerable energy potential thanks to year-round sunshine and wind, is perfectly positioned to become a key player in the clean wind and photovoltaic energy sector, enabling it not only to meet national energy needs, but also to aspire to export surpluses of this sustainable energy. 

Several investments in the fields of solar energy, wind energy and green hydrogen production are currently underway or will be launched in the near future, such as the Dakhla wind farm project, which will supply electricity to the seawater desalination plant, scheduled for completion in 2025, and will be used to irrigate agricultural projects and supply drinking water to the new Atlantic port and the city of Dakhla and its region. 

There is also the strategic project of a 3 GW high-voltage electric motorway linking Dakhla to Casablanca, intended to transport electricity, as well as plans to create green hydrogen production plants capable of placing the Kingdom of Morocco among the most competitive in the world. 

Dakhla, Agadir and Al Hoceima are the three Moroccan bays that are part of this organisation, a number that exceeds that of very powerful countries in the tourism sector, such as Spain and Italy. How can Morocco take advantage of this potential to become a top tourist destination, making the most of its climate? 

The Kingdom of Morocco is on track to become the number one tourist destination in Africa by 2024, a year that promises to break records, confirming that our country is on track to achieve the ambitious goals set by the sector. 

The diversification of the tourism product, the modernisation of transport and reception infrastructures and the upgrading of the quality of the offer can further improve the attractiveness of the sector and, beyond that, position the Kingdom as a privileged and highly competitive tourist destination on the world stage, all the more so as it will host a series of major cultural and sporting events, starting with the CAN in 2025 and the co-hosting of the 2030 Football World Cup.