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: 2026-10-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.236259
AAVE 0.000137
ADA 0.092692
AED 0.091728
AFN 1.613790
AKT 0.032638
ALGO 0.194483
ALL 2.048713
AMD 9.036069
AMP 38.952326
ANG 0.044914
AOA 22.879181
APE 0.155895
APT 0.030422
AR 0.005541
ARB 0.122518
ARS 37.962968
ATOM 0.013718
ATS 0.306459
AUD 0.035841
AVAX 0.002200
AWG 0.044709
AXS 0.019072
AZM 212.306773
AZN 0.042461
BAKE 97.310124
BAM 0.043559
BAT 0.236787
BBD 0.049954
BCH 0.000079
BDT 3.070413
BEF 0.898421
BGN 0.043559
BHD 0.009391
BIF 75.041219
BMD 0.024977
BNB 0.000032
BND 0.031958
BOB 0.299620
BRL 0.124853
BSD 0.024977
BSV 0.001251
BSW 60.697557
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.357479
BTG 0.037860
BTN 2.408227
BTT 67,184.060058
BUSD 0.024973
BWP 0.343763
BYN 0.076198
BYR 489.615478
BZD 0.050231
CAD 0.035639
CAKE 0.010213
CDF 57.721570
CELO 0.240165
CFX 0.455193
CHF 0.020775
CHZ 1.493156
CLP 24.303275
CNH 0.167421
CNY 0.167474
COMP 0.001019
COP 79.892173
CRC 11.429114
CRO 0.367808
CRV 0.067753
CSPR 9.791780
CUC 0.024980
CUP 0.598293
CVE 2.455852
CVX 0.011283
CYP 0.013035
CZK 0.544844
DAI 0.024987
DASH 0.000441
DCR 0.001354
DEM 0.043559
DFI 27.328540
DJF 4.443419
DKK 0.166456
DOGE 0.263420
DOP 1.496895
DOT 0.020187
DYDX 0.170948
DZD 3.357559
EEK 0.348470
EGLD 0.005588
EGP 1.309492
ENJ 0.754480
EOS 0.245783
ERN 0.374654
ESP 3.705626
ETB 4.062794
ETC 0.002815
ETH 0.000009
EUR 0.022271
EURC 0.022268
FEI 0.024988
FIL 0.020924
FIM 0.132419
FJD 0.056200
FKP 0.018902
FLOW 0.789420
FLR 3.465117
FRAX 0.025230
FRF 0.146090
FTT 0.096689
GALA 10.308964
GBP 0.018902
GEL 0.064827
GGP 0.018902
GHC 2,936.451216
GHS 0.293645
GIP 0.018902
GMD 1.848568
GMX 0.002845
GNF 219.601337
GNO 0.000206
GRD 7.588933
GRT 0.857805
GT 0.002231
GTQ 0.190609
GUSD 0.025028
GYD 5.213919
HBAR 0.248112
HKD 0.196005
HNL 0.669727
HNT 0.048135
HOT 54.539571
HRK 0.167803
HT 0.684793
HTG 3.263784
HUF 8.181417
ICP 0.007164
IDR 447.467617
IEP 0.017540
ILS 0.076383
IMP 0.018902
IMX 0.136217
INJ 0.003295
INR 2.408227
IQD 32.653296
IRR 44,921.658030
ISK 3.049634
ITL 43.123179
JEP 0.018902
JMD 3.952486
JOD 0.017709
JPY 3.949137
KAS 0.582200
KAVA 0.360285
KCS 0.003290
KDA 2.558280
KES 3.242227
KGS 2.184449
KHR 101.184119
KLAY 0.599709
KMF 10.956743
KNC 0.174375
KPW 22.482351
KRW 33.530624
KSM 0.004875
KWD 0.007721
KYD 0.020764
KZT 11.371466
LAK 560.450493
LBP 2,252.484338
LDO 0.054525
LEO 0.002809
LINK 0.001806
LKR 8.238197
LRC 2.432782
LRD 4.262285
LSL 0.415838
LTC 0.000359
LTL 0.076898
LUF 0.898421
LUNA 0.489112
LUNC 472.369805
LVL 0.015652
LYD 0.160255
MAD 0.249287
MANA 0.241529
MBX 0.844509
MDL 0.447639
MGA 110.608890
MGF 553.044451
MINA 0.185387
MKD 1.370273
MKR 0.000012
MMK 52.430928
MNT 89.796433
MOP 0.201885
MRO 10.0000
MTL 0.009561
MUR 1.183962
MVR 0.386135
MWK 43.230799
MXN 0.451464
MXV 0.051323
MYR 0.102047
MZM 1,594.258335
MZN 1.594258
NAD 0.415838
NEAR 0.004780
NEO 0.009855
NEXO 0.029371
NFT 104,669.896454
NGN 33.020612
NIO 0.918231
NLG 0.049079
NOK 0.239725
NPR 3.854969
NZD 0.044623
OKB 0.000192
OMR 0.009613
ONE 0.170533
OP 0.185802
ORDI 0.005490
PAB 0.024977
PAXG 0.000006
PEN 0.085999
PEPE 5,775.234176
PGK 0.112528
PHP 1.569708
PI 0.286129
PKR 6.906127
PLN 0.097562
POL 0.228401
PTE 4.464987
PYG 145.914930
QAR 0.090916
QNT 0.000097
QTUM 0.025480
ROL 1,190.476750
RON 0.119048
RPL 0.013062
RSD 2.615858
RUB 2.119038
RUNE 0.032171
RVN 10.180030
RWF 36.815260
SAND 0.379828
SAR 0.093663
SBD 0.201531
SCR 0.353767
SDD 1,499.066725
SDG 14.990667
SEK 0.250885
SGD 0.031958
SHIB 4,266.822189
SHP 0.018902
SIT 5.337086
SKK 0.670944
SLE 0.575840
SLL 575.840271
SNX 0.099758
SOL 0.000208
SOS 14.210682
SPL 0.004163
SRD 0.941775
SRG 941.775403
SSP 143.033755
STD 549.512766
STN 0.549513
STX 0.066652
SUI 0.020928
SVC 0.218548
SYP 324.794927
SZL 0.415838
THB 0.840715
THETA 0.107865
TJS 0.229879
TMM 438.267346
TMT 0.087653
TND 0.074752
TOP 0.060156
TRL 1,228,255.086199
TRX 0.074328
TRY 1.228255
TTD 0.169112
TUSD 0.024997
TVD 0.035841
TWD 0.793813
TWT 0.043752
TZS 65.898804
UAH 1.124943
UGX 100.410879
UNI 0.002819
USD 0.024977
USDC 0.024984
USDD 0.024995
USDP 0.025125
USDT 0.024990
UYU 1.008970
UZS 293.806199
VAL 43.123179
VEB 2,174,802,230.596221
VED 21.748022
VEF 2,174,802.230596
VES 21.748022
VET 2.862160
VND 649.284367
VUV 3.002528
WAVES 0.083722
WEMIX 0.130424
WOO 1.824683
WST 0.069516
XAF 14.608991
XAG 0.000413
XAU 0.000006
XAUT 0.000006
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.067611
XCG 0.044914
XCH 0.015960
XDC 0.743250
XDR 0.018462
XEC 3,132.133940
XEM 39.783015
XLM 0.115731
XMR 0.000045
XOF 14.608991
XPD 0.000021
XPF 2.657669
XPT 0.000015
XRP 0.016624
XTZ 0.074756
YER 5.899493
ZAR 0.415838
ZEC 0.000019
ZIL 6.844705
ZMK 493.802577
ZMW 0.493803
ZWD 9.039149
ZWG 0.668670
ZWL 1,670.823089

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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.