Mauritania: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic

💊 Drugs · Guides by topic

• Almost every country separates use, possession and trafficking — and the line between them is a weight, not an intention.
• Being caught with several bags, a scale or cash next to the drug will usually reclassify "use" into "dealing".
• Carrying for a friend counts as your possession. There is no shared-responsibility defence.

🍺 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.

❤️ Sex & dating · Guides by topic

• The age of consent is the first thing to check, and it varies from 13 to 21 depending on the country and sometimes the region.
• Some countries criminalise sex outside marriage, which can affect an unmarried couple sharing a hotel room.
• Same-sex relations remain a criminal offence in around 60 countries, with sentences up to life in a handful.

👕 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.

🕌 Religion · Guides by topic

• Blasphemy remains a criminal offence in dozens of countries, sometimes with very heavy sentences.
• Proselytising — including handing out leaflets or discussing conversion — is illegal in several countries.
• Tattoos of religious figures have led to deportations and arrests in South-East Asia.

🚗 Driving · Guides by topic

• An International Driving Permit is required or strongly recommended in most non-European countries — get it before leaving, it cannot be issued abroad.
• A few countries do not recognise foreign licences at all and require a local one.
• Rental insurance excesses are often huge; check what a scratch actually costs you.

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. Your home country is free; a destination is unlocked for the price of a coffee.