Laâyoune, or El Aaiún is the largest city in Western Sahara. Its name means 'the springs'. Laâyoune was founded by the Spanish in 1938 and nowadays it has about 300,000 inhabitants.

After Western Sahara was occupied by Morocco in 1975, the local population's interests or needs have been largely ignored. As a result, parts of the city are in a state of dilapidation.

The Spanish built the St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral in 1954.

Laayoune is south of the intermittent river of Saguia el-Hamra, about 30 km inland from the Atlantic Ocean. There is some accommodation available.