Starting a business in Mauritania: foreigner's guide (2026)

100% foreign ownership is permitted in the vast majority of sectors without a mandatory local partner. A local partner is required only for certain regulated liberal professions such as private security. The Investment Code 2025 explicitly guarantees equal rights and treatment for foreign and domestic investors.

The 2025 reforms eliminated the minimum capital requirement for most company types. A société à responsabilité limitée (SARL) requires at least two partners and a nominal registered capital, but no significant paid-up capital threshold is imposed on foreign investors for general business registration.

Through the APIM Single Window (Guichet Unique) in Nouakchott, the full company registration process — covering commercial registry, tax identification number (NIF), and CNSS social security enrolment — is completed within 48 hours of submitting a complete dossier.

The process involves: (1) completing and signing the Unique Form at the APIM Single Window; (2) submitting certified copies of required documents for the chosen legal form; (3) paying registration fees at the Public Treasury representative on-site; (4) receiving confirmation within 48 hours covering commercial registry, tax, and social security; and (5) filing an investment declaration to receive a certificate within 30 days.

Law No. 2025-006 (February 2025), supported by the IFC, replaced the 2012 code. It reduces incentive regimes from four to three, introduces training tax credits (up to USD 5,000/year), adds environmental sustainability incentives, a reinforced SME framework, and a structuring investment regime for large projects. As of late 2025, 19 projects totalling ~USD 120 million had been approved under the new code.

The Investment Code 2025 guarantees foreign investors the unconditional right to repatriate capital, profits, dividends, and other returns abroad without restriction, subject to compliance with applicable tax obligations.