Al-ʽUyun

Al-ʽUyun (Arabic: العيون) is a city in Western Sahara. It is the largest city in the territory, and is administered by Morocco, which considers Western Sahara to be part of its Southern Provinces. The Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara, claims Al-ʽUyun as its capital.

The name Al-ʽUyun translates to "The Springs" or "The Eyes" in Arabic, likely referring to the oases that once existed in the area.

Historically, the area was inhabited by Sahrawi people. The modern city began to develop under Spanish colonial rule in the 20th century. After Spain withdrew in 1975, Morocco and Mauritania annexed Western Sahara, leading to a conflict with the Polisario Front.

Al-ʽUyun is a major urban center and serves as a regional administrative and economic hub. The city's economy is based on phosphate mining, fishing, and some tourism. It has a significant military presence due to the ongoing dispute over the territory's sovereignty.

The status of Al-ʽUyun, along with the rest of Western Sahara, remains a contentious issue in international relations. The United Nations considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory.