Tourist Attractions & Monuments Mauritania

Timetable

Administrations, banks and some shops apply the principle of the continuous day, and are open from 7am to 4pm. Please note, however, that Friday ends earlier or starts later due to prayer.

Main events

Apart from the religious festivals that are part of the Muslim calendar, festivities and other cultural events are rare in Mauritania. With the exception of the date festival, Guetna, which no self-respecting Mauritanian would miss for the world! This event is celebrated in every region of the country. In July or August, depending on rainfall and weather conditions, the date palms are in the spotlight, delivering their first dates in a grand ceremony that is celebrated in every town and village in the bush that has a palm grove. It's an opportunity to get together with family and dance to the rhythms and songs of the griots, in the cool of the night, gathered around the fire. Traditionally, the stone of the first date of the year is kept for good luck.

Public holidays

Friday, the day of the great collective prayer, and Saturday are non-working days. The week officially begins on Sunday.

Civil holidays

New Year's Day: January¹.

Labor Day: May¹.

Organization of African Unity Day: May 25.

Independence Day: November 28.

Religious holidays

In the Muslim religion, the Hegira calendar refers to the day when Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina. The first year of the Hegira begins on July 16, 622. The year is divided into 12 months, but these are aligned with the movement of the Moon rather than the Sun. Thus, the months last 29 or 30 days, and a lunar year lasts 354.5 days on average, compared with 365.25 days on average in the solar calendar, a difference of 10.75 days. To determine which Hegira year we're in, all we need to do is solve the following equation: Hegira year = (Christian year - 622)/0.97. Thus: (2026 - 622)/0.97 = 1447-1448. This means that until June 2026, we are in the year 1447 according to the Hegira calendar, then in 1448 from the end of June 2026. Similarly, the Muslim New Year falls 10.75 days before the previous year's Christian New Year.

Aïd el-Kebir commemorates the sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham in obedience to a divine command, when God, pleased with his submission, sent him a ram to sacrifice in place of his son. It's also known as the "Feast of the Sheep", since on this day every family sacrifices a sheep. May 27, 2026.

^1st Moharram. Muslim New Year. June 16, 2026. Celebrates the beginning of the year 1448.

Achoura. The tenth day of the year. Originally the anniversary of the death of Hussein, the Prophet's grandson, in 680.

Mouloud. This festival commemorates the birth of Mohammed. It will take place on August 25, 2026 (plus or minus one day).

Aïd el-Seghir or Aïd el-Fitr. This is the "little feast" at the end of Ramadan. Takes place on March 20, 2026.

Ramadan took place from March¹ to 30, 2025. In 2026, it should begin on February 17, with the fast breaking a month later.