This approach aims to prevent administrative delays that can occur when additional documents are requested later in the process.
Mauritania has launched a new digital service that allows citizens to apply for building permits online through the Khidmaty platform, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to modernize public administration.
The service was officially launched in the three wilayas of Nouakchott by the Minister of Digital Transformation and Modernization of the Administration, Ahmed Salem Bede, alongside the Minister of Estates, State Heritage and Land Reform, Mamoudou Mamadou Niang; the Minister of Housing, Urban Planning and Regional Planning, Naha Hamdi Mouknass; and the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior in charge of Decentralization and Local Development, Yacoub Salem Vall.
The launch ceremony was attended by the secretaries general of the ministries involved, the three governors of the capital, and a representative of the Association of Mayors of Nouakchott. Ahead of the rollout, public officials responsible for processing applications received specialized training to operate the new digital system.
With the new platform, citizens can now submit building permit applications remotely without visiting government offices. Users can also track the progress of their applications in real time from their smartphones, a feature designed to improve transparency and strengthen trust between citizens and the administration while speeding up processing times.
A key element of the reform is the adoption of the principle of a “complete file from the start.” Applicants are required to upload all necessary documents when submitting their request on the portal. This approach aims to prevent administrative delays that can occur when additional documents are requested later in the process. Once a digital file is validated as complete, the application follows a secure and uninterrupted review process.
Under the new system, applicants will only pay the required fees after their files have been fully validated. Payments will be made exclusively through national e-wallets, based on a pricing structure previously approved by municipal councils. The building permits issued through the system carry full legal validity and can be instantly verified by field inspectors.
Authorities say the reform will significantly reduce waiting times and unnecessary travel while ensuring greater transparency in the management of applications. The first phase of the initiative covers the nine communes of Nouakchott and forms part of a broader plan to gradually expand the digital service as the government advances its administrative transformation agenda.
