Practical info for Mauritania
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
- Policeaccording to France Diplomatie, 28/09/2026; according to Portugal's foreign ministry, 19/12/2025; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/202617
- Policeaccording to GOV.UK, 19/10/2026117
- Medical emergenciesaccording to GOV.UK, 19/10/2026 ; according to Portugal's foreign ministry, 19/12/2025 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026101
- Fire brigadeaccording to France Diplomatie, 28/09/2026; according to Portugal's foreign ministry, 19/12/2025; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/202618
- Fire brigadeaccording to GOV.UK, 19/10/2026118
- Gendarmerieaccording to France Diplomatie, 28/09/2026 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026119
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British Embassy NouakchottEmbassy
- Address
- Ilot M 17, Tevragh Zeina BP 2617, Nouakchott, Mauritania
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/mauritania/british-embassy-nouakchott
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 19/10/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country.
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
FCDO advises against all travel to areas east of a line drawn between but excluding the towns of Kankossa, Akhreijit, Ghallaouia, Zouerat, Fderîck and onwards west to the border with Western Sahara.
FCDO advises against all travel to areas within 25km of the Malian border in the south, including Khabou.
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 25km of the Western Sahara border, excluding the section of the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou road and the city of Nouadhibou.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Ouguiya (MRU).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for MRU.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+00:00, the same time as in London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Mauritania. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence.”
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Mattel (Sirocco).
Source: Sirocco · verified on 26/10/2026
eSIM prices for Mauritania
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Mauritania?
Police: 17 (according to France Diplomatie, 28/09/2026; according to Portugal's foreign ministry, 19/12/2025; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026) ; Police: 117 (according to GOV.UK, 19/10/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 101 (according to GOV.UK, 19/10/2026 ; according to Portugal's foreign ministry, 19/12/2025 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026) ; Fire brigade: 18 (according to France Diplomatie, 28/09/2026; according to Portugal's foreign ministry, 19/12/2025; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026) ; Fire brigade: 118 (according to GOV.UK, 19/10/2026) ; Gendarmerie: 119 (according to France Diplomatie, 28/09/2026 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026). Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Mauritania?
British Embassy Nouakchott, Ilot M 17, Tevragh Zeina BP 2617, Nouakchott, Mauritania. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for Mauritania?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 19/10/2026.
What is the travel advice for Mauritania?
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country. Areas where FCDO advises against travel FCDO advises against all travel to areas east of a line drawn between but excluding the towns of Kankossa, Akhreijit, Ghallaouia, Zouerat, Fderîck and onwards west to the border with Western Sahara. FCDO advises against all travel to areas within 25km of the Malian border in the south, including Khabou. FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 25km of the Western Sahara border, excluding the section of the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou road and the city of Nouadhibou.
What currency is used in Mauritania?
Currency: Ouguiya (MRU). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for MRU.
What is the time difference in Mauritania?
Local time: UTC+00:00, the same time as in London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Mauritania?
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Mauritania. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence.”
Which mobile networks operate in Mauritania?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Mattel (Sirocco).