# Dakhla

> city in Western Sahara

**Wikidata**: [Q345204](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q345204)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakhla,_Western_Sahara)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dakhla

## Summary

Dakhla is a city located in Oued Ed-Dahab Province. It was established in 1884. As of 2024, its population is 165,000[1]. The city has an elevation of 10 meters.

## Summary

Dakhla is a city located on the Atlantic coast of Western Sahara at coordinates 23.716666666667° latitude and -15.95° longitude. Founded in 1884 during the Spanish colonial period, the city serves as the capital of both the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region and Oued Ed-Dahab Province, and functions as an urban commune of Morocco. As of 2024, the population stands at approximately 165,463 residents, making it one of the largest settlements in the disputed territory.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Western Sahara, on the Atlantic coast, at coordinates 23.716666666667°N, -15.95°W
- **Administrative status**: Capital of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region and Oued Ed-Dahab Province
- **Founded**: 1884 (established during Spanish colonial rule)
- **Population growth**: 29,831 (1994) → 58,104 (2004) → 106,277 (2014) → 165,463 (2024)
- **Households**: 5,855 (1994) → 13,715 (2004) → 25,469 (2014) → 45,401 (2024)
- **Elevation**: 10 metres above sea level
- **Postal code**: 73000
- **UN/LOCODE**: EHVIC
- **Native label**: الداخلة
- **Official names**: الداخلة (Arabic), Dakhla
- **Website**: http://www.dakhla.ma
- **Instance of**: city, urban commune of Morocco
- **Moroccan geographic code (2015)**: 12.391.01.01
- **Wikidata ID**: Q328
- **VIAF ID**: 249408325
- **Geonames ID**: 2463447
- **OpenStreetMap node ID**: 348237703

## FAQs

**What countries have controlled Dakhla historically?**

Dakhla has passed through several territorial administrations: it was part of Spanish Sahara from 1884 to 1976, then came under Mauritanian control from 1976 to 1979, and has been administered by Morocco since 1979. Both Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic currently claim the territory.

**What is Dakhla's administrative structure?**

Dakhla serves as the capital of the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region and the Oued Ed-Dahab Province. It functions as an urban commune of Morocco, with the Moroccan geographic code 12.391.01.01 assigned in 2015.

**What are Dakhla's notable population statistics?**

The city has experienced significant population growth over three decades: from 29,831 residents in 1994 to 106,277 in 2014, reaching approximately 165,463 by 2024. The number of households grew from 5,855 in 1994 to an estimated 45,401 in 2024.

**How is Dakhla connected internationally?**

Dakhla is twinned with four cities: Minna (Nigeria), Creil (France), Trinidad (Cuba), and Cádiz (Spain). It maintains a website at http://www.dakhla.ma and has presence across multiple language versions of Wikipedia (ar, en, es, fr, de, and 40+ other languages).

**What distinguishes Dakhla from similar entities?**

Dakhla is distinct from Dakhla Oasis (an oasis in Egypt), with this difference explicitly noted in Wikidata to prevent confusion.

## Why It Matters

Dakhla represents one of the most significant urban centers in one of the world's most protracted territorial disputes. Its strategic location on the Atlantic coast of Western Sahara makes it a focal point in the ongoing conflict between Moroccan claims and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic aspirations for independence. The city's population growth from approximately 30,000 in 1994 to over 165,000 in 2024—more than a fivefold increase in 30 years—reflects substantial investment and development under Moroccan administration, while simultaneously raising questions about demographic changes in a disputed territory.

The city's role as a regional capital and its UN/LOCODE designation (EHVIC) establish it as an important node in international maritime and trade networks along Africa's Atlantic coast. Its twinning arrangements with cities in France, Spain, Cuba, and Nigeria demonstrate international connections that transcend the territorial dispute, while the contested nature of its administration means Dakhla remains a symbol in broader geopolitical discussions about decolonization, self-determination, and territorial integrity in North Africa.

## Notable For

- One of the largest cities in Western Sahara by population
- Regional capital of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, one of Morocco's administrative regions
- Rapid population growth (550%+ increase from 1994 to 2024)
- Coastal location at 23.7°N latitude on the Atlantic Ocean
- Historical significance as a Spanish colonial settlement founded in 1884
- Urban commune status within Morocco's administrative system
- Multi-lingual Wikipedia presence (available in 50+ language versions)
- Twinned with four international cities across three continents

## Body

### History and Administration

Dakhla was founded in 1884 during the Spanish colonial period, establishing its initial identity as Villa Cisneros under Spanish administration. The city remained part of Spanish Sahara until 1976, when Spain withdrew from the territory following the Madrid Accords. Following Spanish departure, Mauritania claimed control over the southern portion of Western Sahara, including Dakhla, from 1976 to 1979. Morocco subsequently incorporated the territory into its administration in 1979, a claim that has been recognized by some nations and contested by others.

Today, Dakhla serves as the capital of the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region and the Oued Ed-Dahab Province. The city functions as an urban commune of Morocco, with the Moroccan geographic code 12.391.01.01. Both Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claim sovereignty over Western Sahara, making Dakhla a contested capital in an unresolved territorial dispute.

### Geography and Demographics

Located at coordinates 23.716666666667°N latitude and -15.95°W longitude, Dakhla sits on the Atlantic coast of Western Sahara at an elevation of 10 metres above sea level. The city has experienced dramatic population growth over recent decades:

- 1994 census: 29,831 residents
- 2004 census: 58,104 residents
- 2014 census: 106,277 residents
- 2024 census: 165,463 residents

This population trajectory represents a 455% increase over 30 years. The number of households grew correspondingly from 5,855 in 1994 to 45,401 in 2024, indicating significant urban development and potential in-migration.

### International Identification and Codes

The city maintains multiple international identification codes: the UN/LOCODE EHVIC for maritime and trade purposes, Geonames ID 2463447 for geographic databases, VIAF ID 249408325 for library cataloging, and OpenStreetMap node ID 348237703 for mapping applications. The Wikidata entity Q328 serves as the primary identifier in structured knowledge bases.

### Cultural and Linguistic Identity

Dakhla's native label in Arabic is الداخلة (ad-Dakhla), with the official name recorded as both الداخلة and Dakhla. The city appears in over 50 language versions of Wikipedia, reflecting international interest in the settlement. The commons category on Wikimedia Commons is "Dakhla," and the city has a dedicated BBC Things ID (3b1fc525-ec07-4971-a797-ddc706ed01a2) for media linking.

The city is distinguished from Dakhla Oasis in Egypt—an important disambiguation noted in source materials to prevent confusion between the two locations.

### International Connections

Dakhla maintains twin city relationships with four municipalities: Minna (Nigeria), Creil (France), Trinidad (Cuba), and Cádiz (Spain). These twinning arrangements span three continents and represent cultural and administrative exchanges that operate independently of the territorial dispute.

The city has a dedicated website at http://www.dakhla.ma, providing municipal information and services. The topic's main category on Wikimedia projects is Category:Dakhla, with a category for people born there (Category:Births in Dakhla, Western Sahara) and an associated people category (Category:People from Dakhla, Western Sahara).

### Administrative Classification

Dakhla is classified as both a city and an urban commune of Morocco. This dual classification reflects its transition from a traditional settlement to a modern administrative center within Morocco's decentralized governance structure. The city's postal code is 73000, facilitating mail and logistics services.

### Regional Context

As the capital of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, the city serves as the administrative, economic, and cultural center for the southern region of the disputed territory. The region's name combines Dakhla with the Oued Ed-Dahab ("Golden River") water system, indicating the importance of water resources in this arid coastal zone. The city's position on the Atlantic coast provides access to fishing resources and maritime trade, while its inland connections link to broader Saharan and Sahelian trade networks.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/17/israel-recognises-western-sahara-as-part-of-morocco)
2. [Source](https://ijoear.com/assets/articles_menuscripts/file/IJOEAR-JUN-2018-3.pdf)
3. [Source](http://hkjoss.com/index.php/journal/article/download/498/494)
4. [Source](https://www.bethlehem-city.org/en/dakhla)
5. Population census of Morocco
6. 2014 Moroccan census
7. [Source](https://www.hcp.ma/file/229661/)
8. 2004 Moroccan census
9. 1994 Moroccan census
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20210129135711/http://www.hcp.ma/file/103036/)
13. [Source](http://rgph2014.hcp.ma/file/166326/)
14. [2024 Moroccan census](https://www.hcp.ma/Population-legale-du-Royaume-du-Maroc-repartie-par-regions-provinces-et-prefectures-et-communes-selon-les-resultats-du_a3974.html)
15. GeoNames
16. BBC Things
17. [Source](https://www.hcp.ma/Population-legale-du-Royaume-du-Maroc-repartie-par-regions-provinces-et-prefectures-et-communes-selon-les-resultats-du_a3974.html)