Laayoune, also known as El Aaiún, is the largest city in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. It serves as the de jure capital of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, although it currently remains under de facto Moroccan administration as occupied territory. As of 2024, the city has a population of approximately 262,791.
The modern city is believed to have been founded in 1938 by the Spanish captain Antonio de Oro. From 1958 onward, it functioned as the administrative capital of Spanish Sahara under the governance of the Governor General of Spanish West Africa.