Saudi Mosque of Nouakchott

The Saudi Mosque, properly the King Faisal Mosque, is the largest in Nouakchott, built with Saudi funding in the 1970s and standing in the centre of the capital with two tall minarets and a broad courtyard. It is the main congregational mosque of a city that barely existed before independence in 1960, when Nouakchott was a village chosen as the capital and built from almost nothing. A second large mosque, the Moroccan Mosque, stands elsewhere in the city and the two are usually mentioned together.

What you actually see

• The twin minarets - the tallest structures in central Nouakchott.
• The courtyard - the broad open space in front of the prayer hall.
• The 1970s construction - a mosque built with Saudi funding after independence.
• The city context - a capital built almost from nothing after 1960.

When to go

November to February is the cool season. Access is outside the five prayer times. Fridays are busiest and visiting is inappropriate.

Honest expectations

Access for non-Muslims is not guaranteed and depends on who is at the door. Dress requirements apply strictly. Photography is often not permitted.

Nearby

Nouakchott's centre is around it, and the camel market is east.