Trying to find out if Mauritania widely accepts Amex cards in restaurants and shops and ATMs - any suggestions
My advice for Mauritania travelers: leave AmEx in your backup wallet. Stick with euros (or new notes of ouguiya) and back it up with Visa or Mastercard. ATMs at major banks-Banque Populaire, Al Wava-won’t accept AmEx, and most vendors, restaurants, and hotels only take cash. This combo ensures you're ready for taxis, shopping in M’haraza, or paying at your riad.
I tried paying with my AmEx at a café off Avenue Mokhtar Ould Dadah-they looked at me blankly and said 'cash or Visa.' Later, I got local ouguiya from an ATM at Banque Al Wava, but only after using my Visa. Once I had that sorted, I used cash for everything-souvenirs at the souk or mint tea in the Medina. Lesson learned: travel with euros or Visa + cash, and forget AmEx expectations.
Even though AmEx isn’t widely used in Mauritania, I had a smooth trip using a mix of euros and a non-US Visa card. I exchanged cash at Banque Populaire near Sebkha and paid for meals around Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser without hassle. Sure, AmEx wouldn’t work, but with cash and Visa/Mastercard, navigating markets, taxis, and guesthouses was easy.
In Nouakchott, AmEx acceptance is extremely rare. Most ATMs-like those at Banque Al Wava or Banque Populaire-accept Visa or Mastercard, but not AmEx. Local restaurants, even upscale ones in Tevragh-Zeina, and markets near M’haraza Souk are strictly cash-based. Your best approach? Bring euros or ouguiya in notes, plus a Visa or Mastercard for emergencies. AmEx just isn’t part of the payment fabric there.