Name: Tourism takes off in disputed Western Sahara
Uploaded: 2025-10-26T15:58:12.392Z
Duration: 2 min 44 s
Description: Kitesurfers are flocking to the windswept beaches of Western Sahara, attracted by some of the best conditions in North Africa. Once largely overlooked, the region is slowly emerging as a niche tourism hotspot, even as it remains a disputed territory.

Kitesurfers are flocking to the windswept beaches of Western Sahara, attracted by some of the best conditions in North Africa. Once largely overlooked, the region is slowly emerging as a niche tourism hotspot, even as it remains a disputed territory.

Tourism is on the rise in Western Sahara, with destinations like the White Dune near Dakhla attracting kite-surfing enthusiasts and other visitors interested in extreme sports. The region's unique geography and consistent winds have made it a popular spot for kite-surfing, while fishing remains a draw along the coast. 

Despite the area's disputed status—recognized by the United Nations as non-autonomous and subject to a long-standing conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front—Morocco has invested heavily in infrastructure to boost tourism and development. Local residents note significant changes in recent years, including increased flights and new neighborhoods, as Morocco seeks to attract more visitors and investment.

Tourism takes off in disputed Western Sahara

To reach the White Dune, no choice but to drive on a bumpy track in the Sahara desert. It's a kite-surfing spot with nearly always wind. The dune stands in the middle of nowhere. These French tourists are fans of extreme sports. I'm going to ride, dude. Heading to the unknown. We have to walk a little because the water is too shallow here. Kite-surfing is getting more and more popular with schools being set up around the world, notably in Dakhla. The White Dune is an ideal spot. When the tide rises, it surrounds it with water creating a huge flat area to kite-surf, because the White Dune cuts the waves. Not all tourists know that Western Sahara is a disputed territory and non-autonomous according to the United Nations. Since the former colonial power Spain left 50 years ago, Morocco has been battling pro-independence fighters of the Polisario Front backed by Algeria. Tourism is at the heart of the Kingdom's strategy to develop the area. When I first arrived, I loved it. There weren't any houses here. This road was different, all the roads were different. I've been living here for eight years and entire new neighbourhoods have appeared. An hour away from Dakhla lies the small village of El Argoub. From there, a short drive on a desert track and we reach Le Camping des Pêcheurs. The only person there comes to greet us. Do you not feel too isolated here? Oh no, quite the opposite. I feel free like a bird. Or free like a butterfly. Ali runs a small guesthouse with one activity on offer, fishing. The coast of Western Sahara is famous for its fish resources. It takes him barely five minutes to catch something. Ali is slightly nostalgic of the 1980s, when Dakhla was even quieter. Can you imagine we only had three flights a week coming here? Now we have five or six a day. It's a big evolution for Dakhla. Between 2016 and 2021, Morocco spent over 7 billion euros on new infrastructure. The kingdom is using tourism to attract investment and build more in Western Sahara.

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