The fair was held between 5 September and 5 November despite the ongoing First World War and indeed occurred during the "deadliest moment of the war in France".[3][4] The organisation of the fair was managed by the French authorities, though they encouraged the participation of the Moroccan population in the fair itself.[4] Separate pavilions were erected to house displays representative of the products of each region of Morocco and for at least one government body, there were also tents erected in which Moorish merchants displayed their goods and various curiosities.[3][4] The fair was also the catalyst for the creation of a fire department for Casablanca.[5]