Africa · Western Africa

Mauritania

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Flag of Mauritania
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC
🏛️ Capital
Nouakchott
👥 Population
4,927,532
📐 Area
1,030,700 km²
💱 Currency
Mauritanian ouguiya (UM)
🗣️ Languages
Arabic
📞 Calling Code
+222
🕐 Time Zones
UTC
🌐 Region
Africa / Western Africa

About Mauritania

Mauritania is the Sahara at its most magnificent and unfiltered — a vast, largely empty expanse of West Africa where ancient caravan cities rise from the desert like mirages, nomadic Moor camps dot the dunes, and the Atlantic coast delivers one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife spectacles. One of the least visited countries on the continent, Mauritania rewards those willing to venture well off the beaten path with an experience of isolation, antiquity, and natural grandeur that is becoming vanishingly rare in an overconnected world.

Driving south from the Moroccan border, you enter a landscape of staggering scale — the Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure), a mysterious geological formation visible from space, looms over the desert floor; the ancient trading city of Chinguetti, once the seventh holy city of Islam and a crossroads of trans-Saharan camel caravans, preserves libraries of centuries-old manuscripts in its labyrinthine old quarter; and the towering sand sea of Amatlich near Atar dwarfs everything around it with orange dunes climbing to 200 metres. This is a country where the human story of desert civilization is told across thousands of years without interruption.

The Atlantic coast presents an entirely different dimension of Mauritania's appeal. The Banc d'Arguin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world's most important shorebird wintering grounds and a critical nursery for Atlantic fish populations. Here, ancient Imraguen fishing communities use traditional methods unchanged for centuries — driving mullet into nets with hand-clapping and singing to attract dolphins to help chase the fish. Mauritania is not an easy destination, but for the traveler with the right spirit of adventure, it offers rewards that few other places on earth can match.

History & Background

Mauritania's recorded history stretches back to prehistoric times, with rock art in the Adrar region depicting animals and human figures from thousands of years ago when the Sahara was considerably wetter and more inhabited. The region later became a critical node in the trans-Saharan trade network, with Berber and Moor caravan routes linking the gold and salt kingdoms of West Africa to the Mediterranean coast. The city of Chinguetti, founded in the 13th century, became so significant as a waypoint for pilgrims traveling to Mecca from across West Africa that it was designated the seventh holy city of Islam — its ancient libraries still contain over 100,000 medieval manuscripts covering mathematics, astronomy, theology, and poetry.

The region fell under French colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and became the Islamic Republic of Mauritania upon independence in 1960. The postcolonial era was marked by border conflicts, the annexation and subsequent relinquishment of a portion of Western Sahara, and persistent political instability including multiple military coups. Mauritania formally abolished legal slavery in 1981, the last country in the world to do so, though the UN and human rights organizations have noted that the social structures associated with historical slavery persist in practice for some communities. The country has been governed by a military-influenced system with periodic democratic transitions, and efforts to build more stable and representative governance continue.

Culture & People

Mauritanian culture is shaped by the intersection of Arab-Berber (Moor) and sub-Saharan African traditions, with the Hassaniya Arabic-speaking Beidane and Haratin groups forming the majority population alongside Wolof, Soninke, Fula, and Bambara communities in the south. The Moors — both White Moors (Beidane) and Black Moors (Haratin) — carry a culture shaped by centuries of nomadic life in the Sahara, expressed in elaborate oral poetry traditions, camel breeding, tea ceremonies, and a complex code of desert hospitality that places the welcoming of guests as a near-sacred obligation.

The three-glass tea ceremony is among the most important rituals of social life in Mauritania. Mint tea is prepared and served in three rounds, each progressively sweeter, over the course of an extended conversation — it is an expression of trust, hospitality, and the unhurried pace of desert time. To rush the tea ceremony is a social impropriety. Music in the Moor tradition centers on the tidinit (a lute-like string instrument) and the ardin (a harp played by women), and the griots (iggawin) occupy an honored social role as praise-singers and memory keepers. Mauritanian weddings are lavish multi-day celebrations involving music, poetry, and communal feasting, and an invitation to one is among the most meaningful cultural experiences a visitor can have.

Food & Cuisine

Mauritanian cuisine reflects the desert environment — hearty, nourishing, and built around the resources that sustained nomadic communities through centuries of harsh conditions. Meat, particularly camel and goat, forms the backbone of festive and everyday cooking. The most celebrated dish is mechoui — a whole roasted lamb or goat prepared over open coals, traditionally served at celebrations and to honored guests. Thiéboudienne, a rice and fish dish originating with the Wolof people of the south, is arguably the most widely eaten daily meal and is shared from a communal platter among family and friends.

Dates are culturally and nutritionally essential — Mauritania's oases produce several prized varieties, and dates are offered to every guest as a fundamental expression of hospitality, often paired with fresh camel milk, which is rich, slightly tangy, and genuinely sustaining for long desert journeys. Asida, a thick porridge of millet or sorghum flour served with a sauce of meat and vegetables, is eaten widely in the southern and agricultural regions. Tea dominates social life entirely — the ritualistic preparation of three rounds of heavily sweetened mint tea is the medium through which relationships are built, deals negotiated, and stories exchanged across the Mauritanian world.

Top Attractions

  • Chinguetti — An ancient desert city and former waypoint on the trans-Saharan pilgrimage route, with a UNESCO-listed old quarter of mud-brick mosques, crumbling merchant houses, and libraries of medieval Islamic manuscripts.
  • Banc d'Arguin National Park — A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's most important shorebird staging areas, where millions of birds winter on the tidal flats and Imraguen fishermen work as their ancestors did for centuries.
  • Richat Structure (Eye of the Sahara) — A mysterious circular geological formation 50 kilometres across near Ouadane, best appreciated from the air but striking even from the surrounding desert plateau.
  • Atar and the Adrar Plateau — The jumping-off point for desert exploration, surrounded by dramatic canyons, oases, and the spectacular dune sea of Amatlich rising from the desert floor.
  • Ouadane — A hauntingly beautiful ruined caravanserai city in the Adrar, once a trading hub and now a ghost town of eroding mud towers rising from the desert with extraordinary atmospheric power.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Check your government's current travel advisory before finalizing plans — certain regions, particularly border areas with Mali and Western Sahara, carry elevated security risks and may require specific permissions.
  • Register with your embassy in Nouakchott upon arrival and maintain regular contact when traveling in remote desert areas.
  • Carry all your water requirements for desert excursions — plan for at least 4–6 litres per person per day in hot conditions, and carry more than you think you need.
  • Always travel with an experienced local guide for desert journeys — the Saharan landscape can be disorienting without GPS and local knowledge, and breakdowns in remote areas are life-threatening without support.
  • Dress conservatively throughout Mauritania in respect for Islamic customs — loose-fitting clothing covering arms and legs is appropriate for all public spaces, especially outside Nouakchott.
  • The currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya; carry sufficient cash as card facilities and ATMs are limited outside the capital.
  • Photography of military installations, government buildings, and people without explicit permission is strictly prohibited and can lead to serious difficulties.

Visa Overview

Most visitors to Mauritania require a visa, which was historically available on arrival at Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport for a fee, though this policy has changed periodically. An e-visa system has been introduced for many nationalities, allowing advance online application before travel. Requirements include a valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity, passport photographs, completed application forms, and payment of applicable fees. Yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers arriving from endemic countries. Always verify current entry requirements through the nearest Mauritanian embassy or the official immigration portal before traveling, as policies have been subject to change.

Getting Around

Getting around Mauritania requires planning and patience. Nouakchott's airport is the main international gateway. Within the country, the legendary iron ore train running between Zouerate and Nouadhibou is a bucket-list journey — one of the world's longest freight trains, it carries passengers in open ore wagons across the northern desert for over 700 kilometres. Beyond this, travel is by 4WD vehicle on paved roads between major cities or by bush taxi. The Route de l'Espoir (Road of Hope) connects Nouakchott to Néma. Desert travel requires 4WD convoys with experienced guides, as navigation errors and breakdowns can be life-threatening in remote areas.

Safety Notes

Mauritania carries elevated security risks in several areas. The border regions with Mali, the far eastern zones, and certain areas of the north have experienced jihadist activity and kidnapping incidents targeting foreigners in recent years. Many governments advise against non-essential travel to these areas. Nouakchott and the main tourist areas around Atar and Chinguetti are generally safer, but the overall environment requires vigilance. Register with your embassy, travel with a reputable guided tour operator, avoid independent travel in remote desert areas, and monitor official advisories closely throughout your stay.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Mauritania.

Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU) UM
Updated: 2026-07-06
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.349316
AAVE 0.000283
ADA 0.133388
AED 0.091957
AFN 1.591980
AGIX 0.320937
AKT 0.039922
ALGO 0.279715
ALL 2.052519
AMD 9.213760
AMP 56.137028
ANG 0.045155
AOA 22.996058
APE 0.178619
APT 0.040037
AR 0.012544
ARB 0.313053
ARS 37.372936
ATOM 0.015835
ATS 0.301373
AUD 0.036146
AVAX 0.003627
AWG 0.044821
AXS 0.024797
AZM 212.835015
AZN 0.042567
BAKE 33.323849
BAM 0.042836
BAT 0.284314
BBD 0.050079
BCH 0.000104
BDT 3.086696
BEF 0.883511
BGN 0.042836
BHD 0.009415
BIF 74.542515
BMD 0.025039
BNB 0.000043
BND 0.032364
BOB 0.173452
BRL 0.129406
BSD 0.025039
BSV 0.001696
BSW 74.812678
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.472496
BTG 0.086775
BTN 2.385626
BTT 94,413.177634
BUSD 0.025018
BWP 0.337950
BYN 0.072713
BYR 490.819982
BZD 0.050431
CAD 0.035581
CAKE 0.017291
CDF 57.772018
CELO 0.372700
CFX 0.559676
CHF 0.020143
CHZ 1.386966
CLP 23.066304
CNH 0.170052
CNY 0.169985
COMP 0.001494
COP 83.695012
CRC 11.410130
CRO 0.418914
CRV 0.117128
CSPR 12.892807
CUC 0.025042
CUP 0.663609
CVE 2.415096
CVX 0.020819
CYP 0.012818
CZK 0.529719
DAI 0.025051
DASH 0.000712
DCR 0.002256
DEM 0.042836
DFI 30.138493
DJF 4.459342
DKK 0.163713
DOGE 0.324016
DOP 1.483994
DOT 0.028704
DYDX 0.189601
DZD 3.330091
EEK 0.342687
EGLD 0.009060
EGP 1.229986
ENJ 0.865200
EOS 0.345696
ERN 0.375591
ESP 3.644129
ETB 4.005193
ETC 0.003526
ETH 0.000014
EUR 0.021902
EURC 0.021918
FEI 0.025048
FIL 0.031712
FIM 0.130221
FJD 0.056226
FKP 0.018766
FLOW 0.893491
FLR 3.602319
FRAX 0.025312
FRF 0.143665
FTT 0.105121
GALA 10.929872
GBP 0.018766
GEL 0.065767
GGP 0.018766
GHC 2,844.722463
GHS 0.284472
GIP 0.018766
GMD 1.846515
GMX 0.004225
GNF 219.534056
GNO 0.000238
GRD 7.462989
GRT 1.319772
GT 0.003693
GTQ 0.191127
GUSD 0.025072
GYD 5.241133
HBAR 0.331605
HKD 0.196385
HNL 0.670361
HNT 0.104488
HOT 69.387809
HRK 0.165018
HT 0.698863
HTG 3.277526
HUF 7.744493
ICP 0.011359
IDR 450.521634
IEP 0.017249
ILS 0.075210
IMP 0.018766
IMX 0.181230
INJ 0.005125
INR 2.385626
IQD 32.831530
IRR 34,456.313968
ISK 3.153872
ITL 42.407518
JEP 0.018766
JMD 3.966809
JOD 0.017753
JPY 4.052623
KAS 0.816271
KAVA 0.554966
KCS 0.003468
KDA 4.296072
KES 3.237367
KGS 2.190053
KHR 100.403839
KMF 10.774908
KNC 0.224631
KPW 22.537661
KRW 38.381916
KSM 0.007106
KWD 0.007770
KYD 0.020831
KZT 11.837210
LAK 566.117341
LBP 2,248.625092
LDO 0.092693
LEO 0.002675
LINK 0.003136
LKR 8.385579
LRC 2.037950
LRD 4.547758
LSL 0.406985
LTC 0.000555
LTL 0.075622
LUF 0.883511
LUNA 0.509875
LUNC 407.840188
LVL 0.015392
LYD 0.160612
MAD 0.234460
MANA 0.359851
MBX 0.995619
MDL 0.440722
MGA 106.255448
MGF 531.277238
MINA 0.528160
MKD 1.349180
MKR 0.000017
MMK 52.565914
MNT 89.744739
MOP 0.202277
MRO 10.0000
MTL 0.009402
MUR 1.177020
MVR 0.387094
MWK 43.434282
MXN 0.437672
MXV 0.049628
MYR 0.102092
MZM 1,599.180027
MZN 1.599180
NAD 0.406985
NEAR 0.012567
NEO 0.012659
NEXO 0.032548
NFT 94,481.139889
NGN 34.310993
NIO 0.921723
NLG 0.048265
NOK 0.246298
NPR 3.818792
NZD 0.044011
OKB 0.000314
OMR 0.009637
ONE 20.032834
OP 0.232909
ORDI 0.007714
PAB 0.025039
PAXG 0.000006
PEN 0.085266
PEPE 9,180.162280
PGK 0.110156
PHP 1.540247
PI 0.221346
PKR 6.966210
PLN 0.094016
POL 0.340476
PTE 4.390888
PYG 152.305444
QAR 0.091143
QNT 0.000374
QTUM 0.035225
ROL 1,144.582597
RON 0.114458
RPL 0.012367
RSD 2.568888
RUB 1.929479
RUNE 0.060546
RVN 6.570111
RWF 36.704553
SAND 0.501858
SAR 0.093898
SBD 0.202620
SCR 0.357808
SDD 1,502.979023
SDG 15.029790
SEK 0.241701
SGD 0.032364
SHIB 5,719.006309
SHP 0.018766
SIT 5.248513
SKK 0.659809
SLE 0.571899
SLL 571.899040
SNX 0.109349
SOL 0.000310
SOS 14.298527
SPL 0.004173
SRD 0.942599
SRG 942.599280
SSP 118.916847
STD 540.572309
STN 0.540572
STX 0.146433
SUI 0.033516
SVC 0.219095
SYP 2.767927
SZL 0.406985
THB 0.832317
THETA 0.178489
TJS 0.232097
TMM 439.340398
TMT 0.087868
TND 0.073815
TOP 0.060303
TRL 1,172,231.489656
TRX 0.076246
TRY 1.172231
TTD 0.169667
TUSD 0.025092
TVD 0.036146
TWD 0.803521
TWT 0.072838
TZS 65.793797
UAH 1.115896
UGX 91.506938
UNI 0.007923
USD 0.025039
USDC 0.025047
USDD 0.025065
USDP 0.025115
USDT 0.025066
UYU 1.007813
UZS 299.666669
VAL 42.407518
VEB 1,613,636,507.896907
VED 16.134928
VEF 1,613,492.846230
VES 16.134928
VET 5.307813
VND 658.541943
VUV 3.009536
WAVES 0.094229
WEMIX 0.096716
WOO 2.114710
WST 0.069254
XAF 14.366544
XAG 0.000406
XAU 0.000006
XAUT 0.000006
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.067779
XCG 0.045155
XCH 0.015888
XDC 0.891131
XDR 0.018469
XEC 4,713.826573
XEM 58.490758
XLM 0.125424
XMR 0.000077
XOF 14.366544
XPD 0.000020
XPF 2.613563
XPT 0.000015
XRP 0.021873
XTZ 0.100630
YER 5.934178
ZAR 0.406985
ZEC 0.000055
ZIL 8.117029
ZMK 459.456011
ZMW 0.459456
ZWD 9.061765
ZWG 0.671647
ZWL 1,678.260005

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Cities in Mauritania 112
Browse all cities and towns
'Ayun-al-'Atrus Adel Bagrou عدل بكرو Agouemit Aïoun El Atrouss العيون Akjoujt أكجوجت Alaq Aleg ألاك Amourj آمرج an-Na'mah Aoujeft اوجفت Aqjawajat Araffat عرفات Atar Atar أطار Bababé بابابى Bangou بنغو Bareina برينة Bassikounou باسكنو Belghirbane بلغربان Benichab Bir Moghreïn بئر أم قرين Boghé بوغي Bouanzé بوانزي Bouçṭa Bougadoum بوكادوم Boulenouar بولنوار Boully بولي Boûmdeïd بومديد Bousteille بوصطيلة Boutilimit بوتلميت Buqah camp de réfugiés de Mbera Cansado كانصادو Chami شامي Chinguetti شنقيط Choûm شوم Dafort Dar Naim دار النعيم Diaguili دياكيلي Diogoutouro ديكوتورو Djewol جول Djiguenni جيكني El Ghabra El Kseïba القصيبة F'Derick افديرك Fassale فاسالا Foum Gleita فوم غليتا Ganki Gouraye غوري Guérou كرو Ḥâssi Touîl Jdîd Hsay Walad 'Ali Babi Inal إنال Kaédi كيهيدي Kamour كامور Kankossa كنكوصه Kayhaydi Kerfi كرفي Keur Macène كرمسين Khabou خبو Kifah Kiffa كيفة Kobenni كوباني Kubanni Lahraj لاهراج Le Bheyr M'Bagne امباني M'Balel امبلل M'Bout امبوت Maaden Alirvan Maghama مغامة Magta-Lahjar مقطع الحجار Magta' Lahjar Mal مال Mbédia-Achar Mbera مبرا Mederdra المذرذرة Mobidougou موبيدوغو Monguel مونكل Moudjéria مودجيريا N'Beika نبيكا N'Diago اندياكو Nawakshut Néma النعمة Nouadhibou نواذيبو Nouakchott نواكشوط Ouad Naga وادي الناقة Ouadane وادان Oualata ولاتة Ould Yengé ولد يينكي Port de N'Diago R'Kiz اركيز Rosso روصو Rusu Sangrave صنكرافة Sélibabi سيليبابي Shingati Tamchekett تامشكط Tekane تيكان Tevragh Zeina تفرغ زينة Tichitt تيشيت Tidjikja تجكجة Tiguent تكنت Tijiqjah Timbedra Timbedra تمبدغة Tindérik Tintane طينطان Toufndé Civé توفوندي سيفي Walatah Wompou وامبو Zouérate الزويرات

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Mauritania needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Mauritania?
The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.
What currency does Mauritania use?
Mauritania uses the Mauritanian ouguiya (UM) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Mauritania?
The official language(s) of Mauritania include Arabic.
What is the population of Mauritania?
Mauritania has a population of approximately 4,927,532 people.
What region is Mauritania in?
Mauritania is located in Africa, specifically in the Western Africa subregion.
What is the international calling code for Mauritania?
The international dialing code for Mauritania is +222.
What time zones does Mauritania observe?
Mauritania observes the following time zone(s): UTC.
What is the current time in Mauritania?
The local time in Mauritania is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Mauritania?
Mauritania covers a total area of 1,030,700 km².
How many states or provinces does Mauritania have?
Mauritania is divided into 28 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Mauritania in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Mauritania in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Mauritania?
Visa requirements for citizens of Mauritania vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.