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: 2026-05-19
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.273284
AAVE 0.000281
ADA 0.099478
AED 0.091853
AFN 1.563406
AKT 0.031027
ALGO 0.232916
ALL 2.052664
AMD 9.204864
AMP 29.892931
ANG 0.045061
AOA 22.974467
APE 0.173429
APT 0.026492
AR 0.011707
ARB 0.213996
ARS 34.917660
ATOM 0.012157
ATS 0.295638
AUD 0.035044
AVAX 0.002710
AWG 0.044770
AXS 0.021300
AZM 212.594268
AZN 0.042519
BAKE 33.827729
BAM 0.042021
BAT 0.258156
BBD 0.050022
BCH 0.000066
BDT 3.073445
BEF 0.866696
BGN 0.042021
BHD 0.009404
BIF 74.509597
BMD 0.025011
BNB 0.000039
BND 0.032015
BOB 0.173347
BRL 0.125300
BSD 0.025011
BSV 0.001663
BSW 29.220820
BTC 0.000000
BTG 0.065017
BTN 2.410788
BTT 77,739.970535
BUSD 0.025024
BWP 0.340026
BYN 0.068780
BYR 687.799722
BZD 0.050341
CAD 0.034385
CAKE 0.017692
CDF 57.398983
CELO 0.310818
CFX 0.424743
CHF 0.019654
CHZ 0.508685
CLP 22.535561
CNH 0.170175
CNY 0.170117
COMP 0.001135
COP 95.020254
CRC 11.322883
CRO 0.357905
CRV 0.106007
CSPR 8.466625
CUC 0.025011
CUP 0.600140
CVE 2.369131
CVX 0.014410
CYP 0.012575
CZK 0.522311
DAI 0.025023
DASH 0.000583
DCR 0.001486
DEM 0.042021
DFI 25.470206
DJF 4.450428
DKK 0.160551
DOGE 0.239800
DOP 1.480547
DOT 0.020028
DYDX 0.172916
DZD 3.320410
EEK 0.336165
EGLD 0.006381
EGP 1.333648
ENJ 0.582330
EOS 0.309185
ERN 0.375165
ESP 3.574773
ETB 3.938364
ETC 0.002808
ETH 0.000012
EUR 0.021485
EURC 0.021468
FEI 0.025106
FIL 0.025918
FIM 0.127743
FJD 0.055151
FKP 0.018647
FLOW 0.693121
FLR 2.994144
FRAX 0.025187
FRF 0.140931
FTT 0.077410
GALA 7.438628
GBP 0.018647
GEL 0.066816
GGP 0.018647
GHC 2,861.237051
GHS 0.286124
GIP 0.018647
GMD 1.847647
GMX 0.003780
GNF 219.391074
GNO 0.000211
GRD 7.320953
GRT 0.994436
GT 0.003525
GTQ 0.190668
GUSD 0.025067
GYD 5.230965
HBAR 0.277859
HKD 0.195868
HNL 0.665349
HNT 0.030369
HOT 63.036453
HRK 0.161877
HT 0.172478
HTG 3.273630
HUF 7.747299
ICP 0.009684
IDR 443.322840
IEP 0.016921
ILS 0.072590
IMP 0.018647
IMX 0.146925
INJ 0.004799
INR 2.410788
IQD 32.770919
IRR 32,968.507953
ISK 3.080904
ITL 41.600414
JEP 0.018647
JMD 3.954909
JOD 0.017733
JPY 3.975096
KAS 0.723740
KAVA 0.434280
KCS 0.003122
KDA 3.006823
KES 3.234382
KGS 2.187881
KHR 100.311466
KLAY 0.480837
KMF 10.569839
KNC 0.174197
KPW 22.509404
KRW 37.645943
KSM 0.005023
KWD 0.007699
KYD 0.020803
KZT 11.735916
LAK 548.603636
LBP 2,242.183520
LDO 0.070226
LEO 0.002479
LINK 0.002580
LKR 8.329621
LRC 1.543264
LRD 4.583984
LSL 0.416415
LTC 0.000461
LTL 0.074183
LUF 0.866696
LUNA 0.395163
LUNC 318.209553
LVL 0.015100
LYD 0.158817
MAD 0.230176
MANA 0.283792
MBX 0.638725
MDL 0.432817
MGA 104.654619
MGF 523.273094
MINA 0.437826
MKD 1.323985
MKR 0.000015
MMK 52.504212
MNT 89.513835
MOP 0.201744
MRO 10.0000
MTL 0.009223
MUR 1.182596
MVR 0.386284
MWK 43.530565
MXN 0.432809
MXV 0.048977
MYR 0.099402
MZM 1,597.462397
MZN 1.597462
NAD 0.416415
NEAR 0.015501
NEO 0.008651
NEXO 0.028119
NFT 88,431.183221
NGN 34.291652
NIO 0.919344
NLG 0.047346
NOK 0.231942
NPR 3.859068
NZD 0.042720
OKB 0.000306
OMR 0.009621
ONE 12.201772
OP 0.194809
ORDI 0.006009
PAB 0.025011
PAXG 0.000006
PEN 0.085593
PEPE 6,791.626590
PGK 0.110502
PHP 1.543457
PI 0.164774
PKR 6.968214
PLN 0.091147
POL 0.275148
PTE 4.307320
PYG 152.227983
QAR 0.091040
QNT 0.000334
QTUM 0.027699
ROL 1,119.241608
RON 0.111924
RPL 0.014411
RSD 2.521663
RUB 1.812671
RUNE 0.055886
RVN 4.525490
RWF 36.568922
SAND 0.347302
SAR 0.093791
SBD 0.200242
SCR 0.367176
SDD 1,501.237169
SDG 15.012372
SEK 0.235330
SGD 0.032015
SHIB 4,339.184129
SHP 0.018647
SIT 5.148622
SKK 0.647252
SLE 0.572874
SLL 572.873574
SNX 0.080743
SOL 0.000294
SOS 14.292181
SPL 0.004168
SRD 0.931029
SRG 931.029318
SSP 117.917550
STD 532.052554
STN 0.532053
STX 0.104702
SUI 0.023638
SVC 0.218846
SYP 2.764607
SZL 0.416415
THB 0.815866
THETA 0.126686
TJS 0.232810
TMM 438.595490
TMT 0.087719
TND 0.072635
TON 0.012429
TOP 0.059499
TRL 1,140,088.098924
TRX 0.070122
TRY 1.140088
TTD 0.169651
TUSD 0.025041
TVD 0.035044
TWD 0.791292
TWT 0.052343
TZS 65.079123
UAH 1.104024
UGX 94.258854
UNI 0.007083
USD 0.025011
USDC 0.025019
USDD 0.025037
USDP 0.025045
USDT 0.025034
UYU 1.002531
UZS 300.932942
VAL 41.600414
VEB 1,293,884,033.578488
VED 12.938263
VEF 1,293,826.309195
VES 12.938263
VET 3.712977
VND 658.549647
VUV 2.969654
WAVES 0.065806
WEMIX 0.092587
WOO 1.480983
WST 0.067406
XAF 14.093119
XAG 0.000329
XAU 0.000006
XAUT 0.000006
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.067713
XCG 0.045061
XCH 0.009011
XDC 0.804577
XDR 0.018297
XEC 3,409.633519
XEM 37.580278
XLM 0.170365
XMR 0.000065
XOF 14.093119
XPD 0.000018
XPF 2.563821
XPT 0.000013
XRP 0.018095
XTZ 0.073148
YER 5.968121
ZAR 0.416415
ZEC 0.000044
ZIL 6.361582
ZMK 472.707711
ZMW 0.472708
ZWD 9.051478
ZWG 0.648040
ZWL 1,619.274179

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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.