Mauritania: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic

Extreme

Overall verdict for Mauritania: Extreme. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.

Mauritania: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Alcohol, Sex & dating

The 23 topics at a glance

Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed

Get the exact rules for your trip

This page gives you the level. The app gives you the rule, the numbers and the penalties for Mauritania, offline, in 23 languages.

Mauritania: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

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How Mauritania compares

With 13 of 23 topics flagged red, Mauritania is stricter than 4 of the 6 other countries in North Africa (regional average: 11.4). Worldwide, Mauritania ranks #6 of 148 for strictness (tied with 2 other countries).

What sets it apart

Dress code: flagged red here, while only 8 of 148 countries are this strict.
Alcohol: flagged red here, while only 13 of 148 countries are this strict.
Behavior: flagged red here, while only 19 of 148 countries are this strict.

What to watch most in Mauritania

👕 Dress code · Guides by topic

Religious sites almost universally require covered shoulders and knees, for everyone.
Several tourist cities fine beachwear worn away from the beach — walking to your hotel in a swimsuit can cost hundreds.
Full face coverings are restricted in some countries and mandatory in others. Both directions carry penalties.

🍺 Alcohol · Guides by topic

Drinking in the street: allowed in some countries, heavily fined in most tourist city centres.
Being visibly drunk in public is an offence in itself in the Gulf, in Japan's stations, and in many resort towns.
Sale hours: several countries block alcohol sales during afternoons, election days or religious holidays.

🤝 Behavior · Guides by topic

Insulting the head of state, the royal family or the flag is a criminal offence in a number of countries.
Losing your temper in public — shouting, aggressive gestures — is treated far more seriously in Asia than in Europe.
Rude gestures that are trivial at home can be a public order offence elsewhere.

Mauritania at a glance

CapitalNouakchott

CurrencyMauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)

LanguageArabic, French

Emergency number17

Driving sideRight

Mains voltage220 V

Calling code+222

Time zoneUTC+00:00

Plug typesC

Land borders🇩🇿 AlgeriaWestern Sahara🇲🇱 Mali 🇸🇳 Senegal

Frequently asked questions

Is Mauritania strict with tourists?

Overall verdict: Extreme. 13 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Alcohol, Sex & dating, Dress code, Religion, Driving, Photo & video, Weapons, Behavior, Jail risk, Drones, Vaccines & health, Politics & protest), 10 require caution.

What can get me fined or arrested in Mauritania?

The strictest topics for travellers in Mauritania are: Drugs, Alcohol, Sex & dating, Dress code, Religion, Driving, Photo & video, Weapons, Behavior, Jail risk, Drones, Vaccines & health, Politics & protest. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.

Where do I find the exact rules for Mauritania?

In LawsTravels: open Mauritania, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.

What is the emergency number in Mauritania?

In Mauritania, dial 17. Capital: Nouakchott. Currency: Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU). Main language: Arabic, French.

Which side of the road do they drive on in Mauritania?

In Mauritania, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 220 V. Calling code: +222. Time zone: UTC+00:00. Plug types: C.

Countries with the closest profile

🇸🇩 Sudan 🇵🇰 Pakistan 🇸🇴 Somalia 🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇱🇾 Libya 🇰🇼 Kuwait

Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.