The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a $15 million long-term financing investment in Grands Hôtels de Mauritanie (GHM) to support business tourism, create jobs, and strengthen economic diversification in Mauritania. The investment will help expand the operations of the country’s first internationally branded five-star hotel in Nouakchott.
The 200-room hotel, which opened in November 2025, has increased Mauritania’s capacity to host international business travelers, conferences, and major events while introducing internationally recognized hospitality standards. IFC’s financing will support the hotel’s growth and enhance its contribution to the country’s tourism sector.
Since beginning operations, the hotel has created more than 200 direct jobs and generated new opportunities for local suppliers, artisans, food producers, and service providers. The project is expected to strengthen local value chains while supporting the development of Mauritania’s business tourism ecosystem.
The investment aligns with IFC’s strategy of supporting private-sector growth through infrastructure projects that create new markets and improve economic opportunities. By strengthening hospitality infrastructure, the project aims to increase Mauritania’s attractiveness to investors and encourage further business activity.
The hotel is also being developed with a focus on sustainability. The project is expected to achieve EDGE certification by incorporating energy-efficient technologies and improved water management systems. These measures are designed to reduce operational costs and limit the hotel’s environmental impact while meeting international standards for environmental and social management.
Owned by Grands Hôtels de Mauritanie, a company backed by the Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM) and private investors RAJA Holding and WAFA Holding, the project represents a public-private partnership that mobilized nearly $60 million in equity. The hotel operates under the Sheraton brand of Marriott International, marking a major milestone for Mauritania’s hospitality industry.
IFC’s latest investment reflects its broader commitment to supporting Mauritania’s private sector across industries including mining, agribusiness, tourism, infrastructure, and financial services. Over the past five fiscal years, IFC has invested and mobilized nearly $2.1 billion in Mauritania to promote sustainable, private-sector-led economic growth.
