eSIM for Mauritania
Land connected in Mauritania. Pick a plan below - it activates in seconds, no physical SIM, no roaming fees.
Best eSIM plans for Mauritania
Three travel data plans that suit most trips to Mauritania, or see the full list of eSIMs below.
Not travelling yet?
Tell us your travel date and we will email you before you go (a week before, or when you choose) with the latest Mauritania eSIM prices. No account needed.
Your Mauritania eSIM guide
How to install your Mauritania eSIM in 3 steps
Mobile shops in Mauritania register SIM buyers biometrically, so setting up an eSIM at home spares you that paperwork on arrival.
- Pick your plan. Choose a data allowance for your trip, from a few days in Nouakchott to a longer journey up to Atar and the Adrar, and the QR code lands in your inbox straight after purchase.
- Install it before you fly. Scan the QR code over Wi-Fi at home, then download offline maps of Nouakchott and your onward route while you still have a fast connection.
- Connect at Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport. Turn the eSIM on for data after landing, and your driver or hotel can hear from you before you have even left the terminal building.
Your regular SIM stays installed for calls and texts from home, while the eSIM takes care of data during your stay.
Coverage in Mauritania
Three operators share the market. Mauritel is the oldest and most widely spread network and is generally the better bet outside the cities, while Mattel and Chinguitel are strongest in urban areas.
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou have the most dependable service, with all three networks present. 5G has only just begun to appear in Mauritania, so 4G is what to expect in the cities, and slower connections are common elsewhere.
Outside the two main cities, coverage thins quickly. Expect a signal in and around towns, but long stretches of desert road between them with little or none, and in the Banc d'Arguin National Park plan to be offline for much of the day. The FCDO notes that limited communications outside the cities make emergencies harder to handle, so tell someone your route and expected arrival time before a long drive, and download maps while you are still in town.
How much data do you actually need?
| Usage level | Typical daily use | Suggested plan |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Maps and messages with drivers and guides around Nouakchott (around 300MB/day) | 1GB, 7-day validity |
| Moderate | Photos from the fishing port and the Adrar, social media, translation apps (around 750MB/day) | 3GB-5GB, 15 to 30-day validity |
| Heavy | Video calls home, streaming, hotspotting a laptop for work (1.5GB+/day) | 10GB or 20GB, 30-day validity |
eSIM vs roaming vs a local SIM
| Option | Getting set up | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Installed before departure; no biometric registration at a shop | Fixed price per data bundle, from £10.53 | Short trips, overland travellers and anyone heading straight out of Nouakchott |
| Home carrier roaming | Only works if your network has a roaming partner in Mauritania; check before you travel | Usually costly at rest-of-world rates | Backup only |
| Local SIM (Mauritel/Mattel/Chinguitel) | Passport and biometric registration, sometimes including fingerprints, at an official operator shop | Cheap data once you are registered | Long stays and anyone who needs a Mauritanian number |
Practical connectivity tips
If you do want a local SIM, buy it from an official operator shop in Nouakchott or Nouadhibou rather than a street seller, since registration is biometric and needs your passport. Before driving north to Nouadhibou or inland to Atar, download offline maps and save your driver's and accommodation numbers, because signal drops away on long stretches of desert road. Mauritania runs largely on cash: local mobile money apps such as Bankily are tied to Mauritanian ID, and only some hotels take cards, so withdraw ouguiya in the cities before heading inland. French and Hassaniya Arabic are the languages you will message in most, so a translation app with offline language packs is worth setting up before you go. The FCDO travel advice on GOV.UK recommends travelling in convoy with an experienced guide outside the cities, including to Chinguetti, so check it before planning your route. The FCDO lists 117 for the police, 118 for the fire service and 101 for an ambulance, and notes that calls may not always be answered, so keep your hotel's or guide's number saved too.
Travelling beyond Mauritania?
- Senegal eSIM for Saint-Louis and Dakar, south across the Senegal River
- Morocco eSIM for Marrakech, Fes and the High Atlas
- Gambia eSIM for the beaches and river trips of the Smiling Coast
- Cape Verde eSIM for an Atlantic island add-on to a West Africa trip
All eSIM data plans
11 plans from £10.53. Prices include VAT, shown in GBP.
Not sure how much data you need?
Tell us your trip length and how you'll use your phone, and we'll point you to the right plan.
Top destinations in Mauritania
Explore the best destinations and stay connected.
Frequently asked questions about eSIMs for Mauritania
Do I need to register with a passport or fingerprints to use an eSIM in Mauritania?
Not for the eSIM itself. Local SIMs in Mauritania are sold with biometric registration at an official operator shop, which means your passport and sometimes your fingerprints. A travel eSIM is bought and installed online before you fly, so there is no shop visit in Nouakchott. Keep your passport with you anyway for hotels and on the road.
Will my eSIM work in Nouakchott and at the fishing port?
Yes. Nouakchott has the most dependable coverage in the country, with all three networks present across the city, including the beach at the Port de Pêche, where the pirogues come in during the late afternoon. It is a good place to upload photos and catch up on messages before heading inland.
Will I have signal on the drive from Nouakchott to Nouadhibou?
Expect gaps. The road north runs for hours through open desert, and coverage that is solid in both cities fades between them, returning mainly around settlements. Download offline maps and save your accommodation details before you set off, tell someone your expected arrival time, and treat the stretches without signal as part of the journey.
Is there signal in the Banc d'Arguin National Park?
Very little, so plan to be offline. The park's coast and islands are remote, and trips out to the birdlife on the mudflats usually go by traditional Imraguen fishing boat from villages such as Iwik. Let your guide or camp know your plans, download maps in advance, and save your photos to upload once you are back within range.
Is there 5G in Mauritania?
5G has only just begun to appear in Mauritania, so it is not something to plan around. Expect 4G in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and slower connections elsewhere. Each plan's page shows the network it connects to.
Which network will my Mauritania eSIM connect to?
Each plan's page lists the network it uses, so check there before you buy. Mauritania has three operators: Mauritel, the most widely spread and generally the strongest outside the cities, plus Mattel and Chinguitel, which are strongest in urban areas.
Will my UK SIM work in Mauritania?
Only if your network has a roaming partner there, so check your provider's list of destinations before you travel. Where roaming is available, Mauritania is charged at rest-of-world rates, which add up quickly for maps and messaging. A travel eSIM from £10.53 gives you a fixed data allowance, while your UK SIM stays on for calls and texts.
Can I use mobile money such as Bankily as a visitor?
Generally not. Mauritanian mobile money apps such as Bankily are tied to a Mauritanian ID or residence permit, so they are not set up for short-stay visitors. Mauritania is largely a cash economy and only some hotels accept cards, so withdraw ouguiya in Nouakchott or Nouadhibou before heading into the Adrar.
Can I stay connected in Atar and Chinguetti?
Expect a signal mainly in and around the towns themselves, with gaps on the roads across the Adrar plateau. Chinguetti's old town, with its manuscript libraries, is a place to slow down rather than stream. The FCDO recommends travelling in convoy with an experienced guide outside the cities, including to Chinguetti, so check its advice on GOV.UK before you plan the trip.
What language should I use to message drivers and guides in Mauritania?
French is widely used for practical arrangements, and Hassaniya Arabic is the everyday language for most Mauritanians. A translation app with offline French and Arabic packs downloaded before you travel helps with messages and voice notes, and keeps working when you are out of signal in the desert.
The connectivity details on this page (networks, coverage, local SIM rules, prices and any numbers) are provided for general guidance and can change. Please confirm current details, especially emergency numbers and registration requirements, with official local sources before you travel.
Added to your basket