Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport sits 25 kilometers north of the capital. The airport opened in 2016 and replaced the old Nouakchott International Airport. International carriers serving Mauritania include Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, Tunisair, Air Algérie, and Air Senegal. Nouadhibou International Airport receives fewer international flights but handles connections from Casablanca and Las Palmas. The national carrier Mauritania Airlines International operates routes to Casablanca, Dakar, Abidjan, Conakry, Bamako, and Paris. Road entry from Senegal crosses at Rosso on the Senegal River via ferry or at Diama where a dam provides vehicle passage. The border with Morocco through Western Sahara territory involves crossing the landmine buffer zone near Guerguerat and requires specific security permissions that change based on regional tensions. Entry from Mali uses the Néma crossing in Hodh Ech Chargui. The Algeria border remains officially closed to foreign travelers.
The official currency is the ouguiya, abbreviated MRU after the 2018 redenomination that replaced the old ouguiya at a rate of 10 to 1. The ouguiya subdivides into five khoums, making it one of two circulating currencies worldwide not based on decimal subunits. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 ouguiya. The Central Bank of Mauritania issues currency and sets monetary policy. Exchange rates against the US dollar hover between 35 and 40 MRU per dollar depending on official versus street market sources. The euro exchanges between 38 and 43 MRU. Banks in Nouakchott include Banque Centrale de Mauritanie, BMCI (owned by BNP Paribas), Générale de Banque de Mauritanie, and Banque Nationale de Mauritania. ATMs exist in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou but are scarce elsewhere. The machines frequently run out of cash and daily withdrawal limits typically cap at 20,000 to 30,000 MRU. Credit cards see almost no acceptance outside international hotels in the capital. Western Union operates in major cities for money transfers. Cash in euros or US dollars provides the practical foundation for travel, with exchange available at banks, hotels, or informal money changers who often offer better rates but carry transaction risk.
French serves as the working language of government and education despite Arabic being the sole official language since 1991. Hassaniya Arabic, a Bedouin-descended dialect, is spoken by the Moor majority comprising roughly 70 percent of the population. Pulaar, Soninke, and Wolof are spoken by the remaining populations primarily along the Senegal River valley. The 1991 language law removed French from official status but it persists in business, higher education, and interactions with foreigners. Street signs in Nouakchott appear in both Arabic and French. English remains uncommon outside expatriate circles and select tourism operations. Berber languages including Zenaga survive in diminished speaker populations. The linguistic division reflects the broader ethnic divide between Arab-Berber Moors and sub-Saharan African groups, a tension that has shaped Mauritanian politics since independence in 1960.
Electricity runs on 220 volts at 50 Hz. Outlets follow the European two-pin Type C standard. Power cuts occur regularly outside the capital. Nouakchott receives electricity from the SOMELEC national utility and the Société Mauritanienne de Commercialisation de l'Electricité. Many buildings use generators as backup. The government has invested in wind and solar projects including a 100-megawatt solar plant near Nouakchott inaugurated in 2020. Rural electrification rates remain below 5 percent. Hotels frequented by foreign visitors typically maintain generator systems. Voltage fluctuations can damage sensitive electronics.
Mobile networks cover Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, and major towns along the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou highway. Mauritel and Mattel are the primary providers. The state owns Mauritel. SIM cards require passport registration and cost approximately 500 to 1000 MRU with minimal included credit. Data packages range from 2000 MRU for a few gigabytes to higher amounts for monthly access. Network coverage drops to 2G or disappears completely in the interior including the Adrar region and routes to Chinguetti and Ouadane. Satellite phones provide the only reliable communication in deep desert areas. Internet cafes operate in Nouakchott but have declined with mobile data expansion. WiFi exists in some hotels and restaurants in the capital but speeds rarely exceed basic browsing capability. The government has censored websites and social media during political tensions.