What currency does Mauritania use?

Mauritania uses the Ouguiya (MRU), redenominated in 2018 (the new ouguiya replaced the old at 10:1). The rate is approximately 39 to 40 MRU per 1 USD. Quick mental math: multiply dollars by 40 to estimate ouguiya. So $10 is about MRU 400. Mauritania is one of the few countries where the currency unit is not divisible into 100 subunits: 1 ouguiya = 5 khoums.

Can I use credit cards in Mauritania?

Card acceptance is extremely limited. Only a handful of hotels in Nouakchott (Azalai Hotel Marhaba, Monotel Dar El Barka) may accept Visa. No restaurants, shops, or transport accept cards. Mauritania is effectively a cash-only country for tourists.

Are there ATMs in Mauritania?

A few in Nouakchott. Société Générale Mauritanie, Banque Mauritanienne pour le Commerce International (BMCI), and Attijari Bank have ATMs that sometimes accept Visa. Outside Nouakchott, ATMs accepting foreign cards are virtually nonexistent. Bring EUR or USD cash as your primary money source.

Should I bring euros or US dollars to Mauritania?

Euros are slightly preferred due to Mauritania's French colonial heritage and strong ties to France and the EU. Exchange bureaux in Nouakchott give competitive rates for clean EUR bills. USD also works well. Bring a mix of both in large denominations (50 and 100 notes) for flexibility.

Is Mauritania expensive for tourists?

Mauritania is moderately priced. A local meal of thiéboudienne (fish and rice) costs MRU 80 to 150 ($2 to $3.75). Mid-range restaurants in Nouakchott charge MRU 200 to 500 ($5 to $12.50). Hotels range from MRU 800 ($20) for basic guesthouses to MRU 4,000+ ($100+) for the Azalai. Desert excursions to Chinguetti or the iron ore train cost $50 to $200 per day with a guide and 4x4.

What is the iron ore train and what about money?

The Mauritanian iron ore train runs 700 km from Zouérat (in the Saharan interior) to Nouadhibou (the port city). It is one of the longest and heaviest trains in the world, and riding it through the Sahara is a bucket-list experience. Passengers ride for free in the open ore cars (bring goggles, scarves, and warm layers for the cold desert night). There are no facilities, vendors, or ATMs along the route. Carry all water, food, and cash you need. Budget MRU 500 to 1,000 ($12.50 to $25) for a taxi to the train loading point and return.

Money in Mauritania: Currency, ATMs & Tips

💰 Quick Context: The Mauritanian Ouguiya

Mauritania uses the Ouguiya (MRU), redenominated in 2018 (new ouguiya = 10 old ouguiya). The rate is approximately 39–40 MRU per 1 USD. Quick mental math: multiply USD by 40 for ouguiya, so $10 is about MRU 400. Uniquely, 1 ouguiya = 5 khoums (not 100 subunits like most currencies). Mauritania is a vast Saharan nation (80% desert) where Arabic and French are spoken. Banking infrastructure is minimal outside Nouakchott. Bring euros or dollars in cash and plan for a completely cash-based experience outside the capital.

🎧 Order Euros Before You Fly

Bring EUR or USD cash to exchange in Nouakchott.

Order EUR → CEI Currency Exchange

The Iron Ore Train & Saharan Adventures

Mauritania attracts adventurous travelers for two main reasons: the iron ore train (a 700 km journey through the Sahara from Zouérat to Nouadhibou on one of the world's longest trains) and the ancient Saharan libraries of Chinguetti (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Both require careful cash planning.

Cash Planning for Desert Travel

The iron ore train has no facilities, vendors, or ATMs along the route. Riding free in the open ore wagons is the classic experience (bring goggles, a turban for dust, and warm layers for the cold desert night). Budget MRU 500–1,000 ($12.50–$25) for taxis at either end. Chinguetti (an ancient caravan city, 600 km northeast of Nouakchott) has no banks or ATMs. 4x4 trips from Atar cost MRU 2,000–4,000 ($50–$100) per day with driver and fuel. Carry all cash from Nouakchott for the entire Adrar region trip.

Cash vs. Card: What to Expect in Mauritania

Mauritania is almost entirely cash-based. Card acceptance is limited to a tiny number of international hotels in Nouakchott. Everything else requires ouguiya cash.

In Nouakchott, the Azalai Hotel Marhaba and Monotel Dar El Barka may accept Visa. Some Chinese restaurants on Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser and a few shops near the Marché Capitale may have card terminals, but do not rely on them. In Nouadhibou (the port city), card acceptance is essentially zero. Everywhere else (Atar, Chinguetti, Ouâdane, Tidjikja, the Adrar plateau) is strictly cash.

Daily budget: budget travelers spending MRU 400–800 ($10–$20) per day for guesthouses, local meals, and local transport. Mid-range travel (better hotels, 4x4 desert excursions) runs MRU 2,000–6,000 ($50–$150) per day.

How to Get Ouguiya for Your Mauritania Trip

Mauritania is almost entirely cash-driven and the ouguiya (MRU) is a closed currency. Card acceptance is essentially limited to two Nouakchott hotels (Azalai Marhaba, Monotel Dar El Barka) and a handful of Chinese restaurants on Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser. Nouadhibou, Atar, Chinguetti, Ouâdane, and the entire Adrar plateau are strictly cash. Plan to bring meaningful EUR or USD cash and exchange in Nouakchott, since ATM coverage is limited even in the capital.

✈️ Easiest Arrival

Bring EUR or USD cash before you fly

Cost: 1–3% spread at Nouakchott banks Convenience: Critical (cards rarely work)

Mauritania is heavily cash-dependent and the ouguiya is closed-currency: US banks (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi) do not stock MRU. A currency-exchange service like CEI Currency Exchange can ship EUR or USD to a US address with insured 2–5 day delivery. Most travelers handle Mauritania by bringing EUR (preferred over USD due to French colonial banking ties and the Sahara overland-travel pattern) and exchanging at a Nouakchott bank or licensed bureau on landing. Mauritania does not have a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner. The cleanest setup for most Mauritania trips: pack EUR €500–1,000 in clean post-2009 bills for the entire trip including Adrar excursions, exchange at Société Générale or BMCI counters in central Nouakchott, use a Wise card at the few card-accepting hotels, and treat ATMs as optional backup rather than primary.

💰 Cheapest

Withdraw from a Mauritanian bank ATM (when working)

Cost: Reliable when working, often offline Convenience: Nouakchott only, unreliable

On the ground, the limited working ATMs are at Société Générale Mauritanie, BMCI (Banque Mauritanienne pour le Commerce International), and Attijari Bank Mauritanie in central Nouakchott. They give the actual interbank rate when foreign cards work, but failures are common: machines may be offline, out of cash, or simply reject foreign cards on a given day. Withdrawal limits run roughly MRU 5,000–10,000 per transaction (about $125–$250). Coverage is essentially zero outside Nouakchott: Nouadhibou has only basic local-card machines, and Atar, Chinguetti, and the Adrar have no functional infrastructure. Decline DCC every time the screen offers "charge in EUR" or "in USD". See the Best ATMs section below for the bank-by-bank lineup. Curious how this compares to a normal-banking-country path? Our ATM fee calculator shows the math for somewhere your card actually works.

⚠️ Avoid

Airport counters & hotel exchange windows

Cost: 5–12% hidden markup Convenience: High (right at arrivals)

Three traps to walk past in Mauritania. The currency-exchange counter at NKC (Oumtounsy International) airport advertises rates that look reasonable but routinely runs 5–10% off the interbank rate, with limited evening hours. The exchange windows inside Nouakchott hotel lobbies (Azalai Marhaba, Monotel) bake the markup into the rate. Honest exception worth knowing: bank counters at Société Générale and BMCI in central Nouakchott exchange clean EUR cash to MRU at competitive rates close to the interbank rate. Stick to bank-branded ATMs at SG, BMCI, or Attijari when they work; decline DCC; and central Nouakchott bank counters are the one acceptable cash-to-cash route. Mauritania does not yet have a city-specific guide on this site, but the Best ATMs section below covers the bank lineup.

For a side-by-side comparison of every method (bank wire, travel card, pre-order, ATM, exchange counter) including EUR-or-USD-to-MRU timing tips, see our complete Getting Currency guide →.

Mauritania Money Guide