Adrar

Adrar represents Mauritania's most touristic region—a desert landscape showcasing the Sahara in its full variety through ancient caravan towns, sculpted sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and date palm oases. Atar, the capital with over 30,000 inhabitants, serves as the hub for expeditions to Chinguetti and Ouadane, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites preserving medieval Islamic libraries and architecture. Chinguetti was historically one of Islam's seven holy cities, a trading post on trans-Saharan routes that preserved manuscripts when other centers were destroyed. Terjit Oasis—nicknamed 'Paradise in hell'—offers natural springs and cool shade 45 kilometers from Atar. The Richat Structure, a 40-kilometer geological formation visible from space, draws adventurers to what locals call the Eye of the Sahara. Tourism forms a major income source: souvenir sellers, auberge owners, drivers, and museum guides all depend on the annual Guetna festival during July's date harvest and the steady trickle of European visitors. A weekly direct flight connects Atar to Paris during high season. Yet Adrar remains remote and sparsely populated, its oasis settlements dependent on traditional date cultivation and the occasional camel caravan. By 2026, Adrar's trajectory hinges on whether post-pandemic tourism recovery continues, whether climate change makes the desert more inhospitable, and whether Morocco's competing Sahara tours siphon visitors.