Mauritania — Shopping
Shopping
Handicrafts such as dyed leather cushions and some engraved silver items, rugs and woodcarvings can be bought on the open market. A fine selection of silver jewelry, daggers, wood and silver chests, carpets and decorated nomad tents can be bought in the crafts center in Nouakchott.
Unique to the Tagant region are neolithic arrowheads, awls and pottery, while at Boutilimit in the south is a Marabout center (Institute of High Islamic Studies) where fine carpets of goat and camel hair are made.
Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1200 and 1400-1900.
Currency
Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRO) = 5 khoums. Notes are in denominations of MRO2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100. Coins are in denominations of MRO20, 10, 5 and 1, and 1 and 0.2 khoums.
Currency Exchange
Currency declaration forms are issued on arrival and should be kept. Currencies can be exchanged at the airport or at the main banks in Nouakchott. It is illegal to exchange money on the black market.
Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs
Credit cards can be used in a few hotels in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. There are very few ATMs.
Travelers Checks
Limited use. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in US Dollars.
Currency Restrictions
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. There is no restriction on the import of foreign currency provided the amount is declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency must not exceed the amount declared on arrival.
Banking Hours
Sun-Thurs 0800-1600.
Exchange Rate
| 1.00 GBP = 445.78 MRO |
| 1.00 USD = 277.5 MRO |
| 1.00 EUR = 390.5 MRO |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
