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: 2026-08-21
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.281690
AAVE 0.000253
ADA 0.122269
AED 0.091977
AFN 1.652815
AGIX 0.400979
AKT 0.047744
ALGO 0.285503
ALL 1.984926
AMD 9.132061
AMP 62.860407
ANG 0.045182
AOA 22.989516
APE 0.189907
APT 0.043496
AR 0.012148
ARB 0.274423
ARS 37.497726
ATOM 0.016551
ATS 0.294787
AUD 0.035130
AVAX 0.003455
AWG 0.044830
AXS 0.025779
AZM 212.880722
AZN 0.042576
BAKE 33.474654
BAM 0.041900
BAT 0.376056
BBD 0.050090
BCH 0.000111
BDT 3.063483
BEF 0.864201
BGN 0.041900
BHD 0.009417
BIF 74.543257
BMD 0.025045
BNB 0.000038
BND 0.031817
BOB 0.289208
BRL 0.130109
BSD 0.025045
BSV 0.001550
BSW 67.067678
BTC 0.000000
BTG 0.053282
BTN 2.397671
BTT 88,391.923625
BUSD 0.025042
BWP 0.336625
BYN 0.076260
BYR 490.835708
BZD 0.050442
CAD 0.034494
CAKE 0.015138
CDF 57.415122
CELO 0.369874
CFX 0.556380
CHF 0.020018
CHZ 1.897012
CLP 23.110030
CNH 0.168381
CNY 0.168362
COMP 0.001320
COP 76.908131
CRC 11.383031
CRO 0.466641
CRV 0.087726
CSPR 9.504227
CUC 0.025043
CUP 0.663630
CVE 2.362311
CVX 0.014595
CYP 0.012538
CZK 0.516854
DAI 0.025047
DASH 0.000757
DCR 0.002035
DEM 0.041900
DFI 46.483199
DJF 4.460927
DKK 0.160155
DOGE 0.304920
DOP 1.465277
DOT 0.029614
DYDX 0.220618
DZD 3.327532
EEK 0.335198
EGLD 0.008383
EGP 1.274235
ENJ 0.953757
EOS 0.358333
ERN 0.375672
ESP 3.564483
ETB 4.081712
ETC 0.003590
ETH 0.000011
EUR 0.021423
EURC 0.021496
FEI 0.025039
FIL 0.033572
FIM 0.127375
FJD 0.055024
FKP 0.018353
FLOW 0.861858
FLR 3.600394
FRAX 0.025237
FRF 0.140525
FTT 0.115156
GALA 15.428147
GBP 0.018353
GEL 0.065129
GGP 0.018353
GHC 2,777.759034
GHS 0.277776
GIP 0.018353
GMD 1.857432
GMX 0.003605
GNF 220.179472
GNO 0.000204
GRD 7.299878
GRT 1.656707
GT 0.003478
GTQ 0.191164
GUSD 0.025082
GYD 5.243683
HBAR 0.337756
HKD 0.196424
HNL 0.671899
HNT 0.137609
HOT 70.836815
HRK 0.161411
HT 0.532633
HTG 3.280469
HUF 7.811832
ICP 0.010502
IDR 444.402864
IEP 0.016872
ILS 0.075177
IMP 0.018353
IMX 0.226452
INJ 0.005284
INR 2.397671
IQD 32.856127
IRR 34,422.984324
ISK 3.042141
ITL 41.480660
JEP 0.018353
JMD 3.966871
JOD 0.017757
JPY 3.981029
KAS 0.870016
KAVA 0.589991
KCS 0.003329
KDA 5.130813
KES 3.241580
KGS 2.192627
KHR 100.811130
KLAY 0.928055
KMF 10.539412
KNC 0.229800
KPW 22.538382
KRW 34.601582
KSM 0.007842
KWD 0.007721
KYD 0.020833
KZT 11.446363
LAK 564.383892
LBP 2,248.087755
LDO 0.073770
LEO 0.002694
LINK 0.002325
LKR 8.273117
LRC 3.087316
LRD 4.547386
LSL 0.403300
LTC 0.000520
LTL 0.073969
LUF 0.864201
LUNA 0.541008
LUNC 469.553306
LVL 0.015056
LYD 0.158798
MAD 0.231686
MANA 0.355180
MBX 1.176605
MDL 0.430484
MGA 107.129240
MGF 535.646199
MINA 0.534281
MKD 1.320964
MKR 0.000017
MMK 52.586967
MNT 90.140977
MOP 0.202317
MRO 10.0000
MTL 0.009197
MUR 1.168280
MVR 0.387182
MWK 43.472059
MXN 0.424250
MXV 0.048236
MYR 0.101293
MZM 1,598.420948
MZN 1.598421
NAD 0.403300
NEAR 0.014181
NEO 0.012613
NEXO 0.031516
NFT 90,060.002961
NGN 33.816899
NIO 0.922174
NLG 0.047210
NOK 0.233733
NPR 3.838072
NZD 0.041983
OKB 0.000233
OMR 0.009637
ONE 33.560394
OP 0.258576
ORDI 0.005984
PAB 0.025045
PAXG 0.000006
PEN 0.083974
PEPE 7,771.200957
PGK 0.112318
PHP 1.544752
PI 0.274980
PKR 6.957275
PLN 0.092493
POL 0.309846
PTE 4.294920
PYG 150.998408
QAR 0.091163
QNT 0.000405
QTUM 0.030772
ROL 1,124.971741
RON 0.112497
RPL 0.015378
RSD 2.513610
RUB 2.073548
RUNE 0.055789
RVN 8.268386
RWF 36.857197
SAND 0.568349
SAR 0.093918
SBD 0.200717
SCR 0.351694
SDD 1,503.030608
SDG 15.030306
SEK 0.237185
SGD 0.031817
SHIB 5,045.069648
SHP 0.018353
SIT 5.133801
SKK 0.645388
SLE 0.573527
SLL 573.526510
SNX 0.117648
SOL 0.000284
SOS 14.321147
SPL 0.004174
SRD 0.947104
SRG 947.103787
SSP 140.748923
STD 529.252608
STN 0.529253
STX 0.168655
SUI 0.033828
SVC 0.219142
SYP 325.604379
SZL 0.403300
THB 0.822401
THETA 0.154054
TJS 0.231682
TMM 437.841656
TMT 0.087568
TND 0.072596
TOP 0.060314
TRL 1,203,434.255213
TRX 0.074064
TRY 1.203434
TTD 0.169889
TUSD 0.025085
TVD 0.035130
TWD 0.797618
TWT 0.060953
TZS 66.259487
UAH 1.118632
UGX 93.147168
UNI 0.006596
USD 0.025045
USDC 0.025044
USDD 0.025049
USDP 0.025080
USDT 0.025051
UYU 1.004917
UZS 296.637736
VAL 41.480660
VEB 1,946,573,735.721703
VED 19.411788
VEF 1,941,178.786747
VES 19.411788
VET 4.817096
VND 652.150557
VUV 2.969730
WAVES 0.121618
WEMIX 0.125903
WOO 2.157149
WST 0.068035
XAF 14.052549
XAG 0.000366
XAU 0.000006
XAUT 0.000006
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.067806
XCG 0.045182
XCH 0.017308
XDC 0.873659
XDR 0.018290
XEC 3,608.346474
XEM 54.590761
XLM 0.135448
XMR 0.000060
XOF 14.052549
XPD 0.000019
XPF 2.556441
XPT 0.000013
XRP 0.019496
XTZ 0.111772
YER 5.937536
ZAR 0.403300
ZEC 0.000044
ZIL 9.901614
ZMK 475.192685
ZMW 0.475193
ZWD 9.063710
ZWG 0.666956
ZWL 1,666.538249

No currencies match your search.

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.