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Rabat – Morocco’s Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan chaired in Rabat today the official opening of the 31st edition of the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL), scheduled to run from May 1 to 10.
The opening of this international cultural forum reflects the continued high regard and attention Morocco gives to the cultural sector, underscoring the country’s sustained commitment to promoting various cultural expressions and strengthening the role of culture in building an open, knowledge-based, and prosperous society.
Upon his arrival at the the OLM-Souissi space in Rabat, the Crown Prince reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard that rendered honors before being greeted by senior Moroccan and foreign officials, including the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, and representatives of the French delegation.
The Crown Prince toured several exhibition stands, including that of France, which is participating as this year’s guest of honor. France’s participation highlights the historic and cultural ties between Paris and Rabtat while reinforcing the momentum of their multidimensional cooperation within the framework of their rapidly improving diplomatic relations.
He also visited the stand of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, as well as the thematic pavilion dedicated to this year’s edition. Themed “Ibn Battuta and the Narrative of Travel,” the highly symbolic pavilion pays tribute to the renowned 14th-century Moroccan explorer and scholar whose journeys symbolized openness, dialogue, and cross-cultural understanding.
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The Prince’s stops included stands representing the National Observatory for Child Rights, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Persons with Disabilities, the publishing house Dar El Amane, and Palestine, reflecting the fair’s broad humanitarian and cultural scope.
The Crown Prince also visited exhibitions hosted by the Alaouite Organization for the Promotion of the Blind in Morocco, the “Librairie des Écoles” group, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Rabat’s Cultural Heritage, and the “Le Petit Prince” space dedicated to children.
Organized by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in partnership with the Wilaya of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, the Regional Council, and the Rabat Municipality, this edition of SIEL coincides with Rabat’s designation by UNESCO as World Book Capital 2026. This recognition of the city’s rich historical and cultural heritage and a reflection of the Royal Vision aimed at consolidating Rabat as a “City of Light” and cultural capital of Morocco.
The fair brings together 891 exhibitors, including 321 direct participants and 570 indirect ones, representing 60 countries across the Arab world, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The event features more than 130,000 titles and over three million copies covering diverse fields of knowledge and creative expression.
Centered on the theme “Ibn Battuta and the Narrative of Travel,” this year’s SIEL celebrates the legacy of the Moroccan explorer as a symbol of knowledge, curiosity, and peaceful cultural exchange across borders, languages, and civilizations.
Over the next ten days, Rabat will be home to a wide range of cultural activities, including conferences, literary debates, poetry readings, book presentations, and tributes to prominent Moroccan literary figures who have left their mark on the country’s intellectual history.
