SIEL 2025 Draws 403,000 Visitors With Strong Turnout From Moroccan Writers Abroad
Rabat – The 30th International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL) closed its doors on Sunday after welcoming more than 403,000 visitors, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication announced.
The turnout marks a 26% rise compared to last year, reflecting the fair's growing influence on Morocco's cultural calendar.
Bringing together 756 exhibitors from 51 countries, SIEL offered readers access to nearly 100,000 titles, spanning literature, science, philosophy, and thought from across the world.
This year, special attention turned to Moroccan writers living abroad, whose strong presence reflects the rising global popularity of Moroccan literature.
This year's edition also honored the Emirate of Sharjah as guest of honor. The fair came to life through the efforts of the Ministry of Youth with support from the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra Regional Council and the local authorities.
SIEL 2025 has further solidified Rabat's place as an important cultural capital. The city drew visitors and authors alike into conversations that crossed borders and generations, anchoring its role on the national and international stage.
The fair also stood out as a true crossroads of cultures and ideas. It hosted a wide range of panels and debates discussing a great number of issues, ranging from human rights to new literary tendencies.
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) made a particularly strong appearance, engaging visitors in conversations around freedom of expression and cultural rights. Meanwhile, a dedicated space for children offered workshops and storytelling sessions, nurturing a love for books and imagination from an early age.
Throughout the week, SIEL brought together voices from different horizons, turning Rabat into a lively meeting ground for readers, writers, and thinkers from across the globe.
As the doors close on this year's edition with a bittersweet farewell, the anticipation for what's to come already begins to brew. Readers, writers, and culture vultures alike now turn their eyes to next year's festival, speculating about how SIEL will grow and thrill next. Until then, this year's fair's energy is certain to linger. Tags: Book fairMorocco SIELSIELSIEL 2025
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