Western Sahara is a territory located in North Africa. It is bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The region is characterized by arid desert landscapes, with vast stretches of dunes, rocky plateaus, and salt flats.

People within Western Sahara write address formats differently. It can be attributed to several factors related to the region’s political, cultural, and historical context. The indigenous population of Western Sahara, the Sahrawi people, possesses a unique cultural identity that is influenced by Berber, Arab, and African traditions. As a result, traditional naming conventions and address formats can vary. In some cases, addresses include references to historical, cultural, or religious landmarks or practices that are significant to the local community.

Moreover, there are different types of addresses, each with its specific element requirements. If you need to mail a client or customer in Western Sahara but are unsure of the correct address format, we can assist you. We have listed all the different types of addresses, along with their formats and examples.

Recipient Name

In the first line, write the recipient’s full name. If you are sending the mail to a business, the company name will appear in the first line. Write the person’s name and department in the second and third lines. Add ATTN. in front of the person’s name to ensure the internal mail distribution system sends the mail to the correct office and desk.

Street Address

In the second line, write the street name and the building number of the residential or business address. If the recipient uses a P.O. box, write “P.O. BOX” followed by the box number.

Neighborhood

Write the name of the local region or area where the person lives.

Postal Code and City

Write the five-digit postal code. In the same line, write the name of the city where the person lives. Some of the famous cities in Western Sahara are Laayoune, Dakhla, Smara, and Tifariti.

Country Name

Write the name of the country in the last line. When sending international mail to Western Sahara, write the country’s name in capital letters.

Residential Address Format

Write the recipient’s name, street address, P.O. box number, neighborhood, postal code, city, and country name.

Rural Address Format

Typically, the streets in rural areas of Western Sahara do not have a formal name. In this case, write the name of the village or the settlement, followed by the nearest large town or city. Add the rest of the address elements in the same way as the residential address.

Business Address Format

Instead of the recipient’s name in the residential address, write the company’s name in the first line. Write the person’s name in the second line, and add their department in the third line.

International Address Format for NGOs and Organizations

Write the organization’s name in the first line and the specific department in the second line. Place all the other address components, except the recipient’s name, in the same way as the residential address.

P.O. Box Address Format

Instead of the street address, write the term “P.O. box” and then the box number in the residential address.

Military Address Format

The address format follows the same structure as the residential address format, except for the first two lines. In the first line, write the rank and full name of the person. In the second line, write the military unit number.

Government Office Address Format

Instead of the recipient’s name, write the office and department names in the residential address on the first and second lines.

Address Format for Multiple Recipients

If you want to mail multiple people in the same household or business, you should write each name on separate lines of the residential and business addresses.

Address Format for Courier Services

If you send mail using courier services like DHL or FedEx, add the recipient’s contact details to the end of the residential address. Delivery agents can call them if they cannot find the address.

In the areas of Western Sahara controlled by Morocco, the national postal service operates under Morocco Post. It provides standard postal services, including mail delivery, parcel services, express mail, and financial services like money transfers and postal savings. The system adheres to Moroccan postal codes and addresses, and the country’s official language, Arabic, is used for addressing.

In the parts of Western Sahara administered by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, particularly in the refugee camps in Algeria, the postal system operates differently. The SADR’s postal authority is not internationally recognized and lacks the formal structure of a national postal service, such as Morocco Post.

You have learned how to structure the address format for a recipient in Western Sahara. However, you need a verified address to ensure your address reaches the intended recipient. The PostGrid Address Verification solution verifies, standardizes, and offers real-time address autocomplete suggestions. Whether you want to verify a single or bulk address, we provide correct, complete, and up-to-date addresses in sync with the official postal service provider for over 245 countries and territories. 

If you are curious about the format of any other country, visit our global address format page and learn the format followed in countries across the world.