Currency in Mauritania: MRO Send & Spend FX Guide
Resources for Expats, Travelers, and Entrepreneurs Navigating Life and Trade in Mauritania with the Mauritanian ouguiya.
What's in this Mauritania currency guide?
What currency is used in Mauritania?
The official currency of Mauritania (country code: MR) is the Mauritanian ouguiya, with symbol UM and currency code MRO.
What is a good Mauritanian ouguiya exchange rate?
The BestExchangeRates.com currency comparison table below helps you see the total cost of your currency transaction by showing the exchange rates offered by different providers. It also makes it easy to spot potential savings from market-leading FX services compared to bank rates.
To see a full list of rates, enter your transaction type, currencies and amount then click ‘GET RATES’:
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Good things to know about the Mauritanian ouguiya
The Mauritanian ouguiya (MRO) is the official currency of Mauritania, a country located in northwest Africa. Here are a few things to know about the Mauritanian ouguiya:
- The Mauritanian ouguiya is abbreviated as MRO and is divided into 5 khoums.
- The Central Bank of Mauritania is responsible for issuing and regulating the Mauritanian ouguiya.
- The exchange rate for the Mauritanian ouguiya is determined by supply and demand in the foreign exchange market.
- Mauritania has a largely agricultural economy, with a significant portion of the population engaged in farming and livestock production. The country is also a major producer of iron ore and has a growing fishing industry.
- The Mauritanian ouguiya has experienced significant depreciation in recent years due to economic challenges such as high inflation and a large trade deficit. In addition, Mauritania has faced political instability and conflict, which have also had an impact on the value of the Mauritanian ouguiya.
For more MRO information check out our selection of Mauritanian ouguiya news and guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What currency should I use in Mauritania?
The domestic currency in Mauritania is the Mauritanian ouguiya.
What is the Mauritanian ouguiya currency code and symbol?
The three letter currency code for the Mauritanian ouguiya is MRO — symbol is UM.
What does the Mauritanian ouguiya look like?
Here is an example Mauritanian ouguiya banknote:
Which countries use the Mauritanian ouguiya?
It is the domestic currency in Mauritania.
Is the Mauritanian ouguiya a closed currency?
No, the Mauritanian ouguiya is freely available and convertible. See guide: What is a closed currency?
What are equivalent amounts of USD and MRO?
Here are some popular conversion amounts for USD to MRO (US dollar to Mauritanian ouguiya)*.
*Converted at the current USDMRO interbank exchange rate. Calculate actual payout amounts for Send Money and Travel Money exchange rates.
Travel money for Mauritania
Using Wise for Mauritanian ouguiya travel money is a smart choice for savvy travelers. With its competitive exchange rates and low fees, Wise allows you to convert and manage multiple currencies effortlessly.
Be careful when using your own bank's Debit/Credit Card, as your bank may also charge an extra 3% as an “Overseas Transaction Charge” plus “Overseas ATM” fees for withdrawing cash on top of the standard Visa/Mastercard 2.5% from market mid-rate.
For card purchases, if you are offered a choice of currencies always select to Pay in Mauritanian ouguiya otherwise you will typically get much worst dynamic currency conversion (DCC) exchange rates.
If you really want Mauritanian ouguiya cash before departure, you can save money by ordering online. You generally get better rates and can pick up the MRO cash locally or even on travel day at the airport.
Mauritania: Travel Guide
Traveling to Mauritania requires careful financial planning to ensure a smooth and cost-effective experience. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate currency considerations and manage your money effectively during your visit.
There's no doubt that Mauritania has some of the continent's grandest scenery. The Saharan Adrar region, with its World Heritage–listed caravan towns, is currently off-limits for security reasons, but the desert is a constant presence elsewhere, pushing hard up against the Atlantic Coast. Millions of migratory birds winter along the coast at Parc National du Banc d'Arguin, and the expanding capital Nouakchott is where modernity takes root in the desert.
Mauritania, with one of the world's lowest population densities, is almost equally divided between Moors of Arab-Berber descent and black Africans, a striking cultural combination that is part of its appeal.
What currency to use in Mauritania?
The unit of currency is the ouguiya (UM). There are plenty of ATMs in Nouakchott and a handful in Nouâdhibou. It's best to take euros or US dollars as back-up.
Getting around in Mauritania.
Mauritania Airlines flies daily (except Wednesday) between Nouakchott and Nouâdhibou, and twice a week via Zouérat. Tickets can be purchased at the airline's office in Nouakchott or most travel agencies.
Mauritania is a country in love with police roadblocks, and you’ll frequently be asked to produce ID, especially when entering or leaving a town. This is usually a straightforward procedure and police are generally polite. Your details are registered, so to speed things up make your own form (fiche or ordre de mission) to hand over. Mauritania's primary road network is mostly good, with tarred roads leading from the border with Western Sahara to Nouakchott, and on to the Senegalese and Malian borders at Rosso and Nioro respectively. The roads from the capital to Atâr and Tidjikja are also tarred. Elsewhere, piste is the order of the day, although great swathes of the country are little more than sandy tracks at best.
Minibus routes stitch together the main towns and cities linked by tarmac roads. The Nouâdhibou–Zouérat train is certainly an epic adventure when the security situation permits. It's an iron-ore train with no passenger terminals, but it's become a passenger train for lack of better alternatives.
Is it safe in Mauritania?
There is an ongoing threat of kidnapping against westerners throughout Mauritania. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and other groups have specifically targeted and kidnapped foreigners in parts of North Africa and pose a significant security threat in Mauritania. Much of the country is remote and terrorist and criminal groups have ease of movement across porous national borders. There remains a strong possibility that foreigners kidnapped by tribal groups could be on-sold to AQIM. Travel to Mauritania is ill advised due to persistent crime and terrorism activity.
There is a high threat from terrorism in Mauritania. Terrorist attacks could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners, as well as premises and symbols associated with the Government of Mauritania.
Everyday Costs in in Mauritania
How much does it really cost to live, work, or travel in Mauritania? Here's what to expect for daily expenses and expat living.
Currency Guide: Mauritania (ISO Code: MR)
For travelers embarking on a week-long adventure in Mauritania, a budget of around 1,500 to 2,000 MRU (Mauritanian Ouguiya) should suffice for a mid-range stay. This estimate generally covers accommodations, meals, transportation, and minor activities. Here’s a quick breakdown of typical daily expenses to help you plan your spending:
- 🍽️ Meal at a local restaurant: 120–200 MRU
- ☕ Coffee: 25–45 MRU
- 🚌 Public transport fare: 10–30 MRU
- 📱 Prepaid SIM card: 1,200–1,500 MRU (one-time)
- 🏨 Budget hotel or Airbnb: 1,500–3,000 MRU per night
Overall, Mauritania offers travelers a relatively affordable experience, particularly when compared to the United States where costs can be 50-100% higher for similar experiences. It’s also cheaper than the UK, although more expensive than some Southeast Asian destinations. Therefore, keep your wallet ready for some great value in Mauritania's rich landscapes and culture.
Insights for Expats in Mauritania
For expats moving to Mauritania, living costs will generally vary based on lifestyle. A typical monthly budget may range from 20,000 to 30,000 MRU for basic living expenses, which includes rent, groceries, and other necessities. Banking in Mauritania is growing, yet cash remains king, particularly in rural areas. For urban living, major banks and ATMs are widely available. It's advisable to notify your bank in advance if you plan to use international cards, as card acceptance may vary.
When it comes to money transfers, utilizing online services like Wise or OFX often provides better exchange rates and lower fees than exchanging cash locally. However, for local transactions, having cash on hand is crucial due to limited card acceptance outside larger cities. As such, combining both methods might offer the best financial strategy for expats adjusting to life in Mauritania.
USD/MRO Market Data
The below interactive chart displays the USD/MRO change and UP📈 DOWN📉 trends over the past 1 Year.
Send Money to Mauritania - Best Rates
To get a good (and fair) exchange rate when sending money to Mauritania you need to find and compare exchange rates for International Money Transfers (IMTs).
The available FX rates for sending money abroad can be very different to the mid-market (wholesale) rate which you see reported online and in the News.
You should especially compare your own bank's exchange rates to those available from Money Transfer specialists to see how much you can save - we make that calculation easy in the below table.
Get a better deal for foreign transfers to Mauritania
When sending money to Mauritania it’s important to compare your bank’s rates & fees with those we have negotiated with our partner money transfer providers. To get a better deal you should follow these 4 simple steps :
- Open an account with a BER reviewed FX provider (id docs may be required)
- You specify the local or Mauritanian ouguiya amount you want to transfer
- Make a local currency domestic transfer for the requested amount to the provider's bank account in your country
- Once your funds are received by the provider the converted MRO amount will be transfered to the recipient account you specify in Mauritania.
Use the above calculator to compare the exchange rates of FX specialist providers rates versus your bank's standard rates you can hopefully save around 5% and maybe more - end result is more Mauritanian ouguiya deposited into the recipient bank account and less margins and fees kept by the banks!