Laayoune (also El-Aaiun, El-Ayoun, al-Ayun) is both the largest city in Western Sahara and the capital of one of the three provinces that Morocco established in the territory. Laayoune lies in the northern part of Western Sahara, 13 kms inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It is Western Sahara's only major populated place. Laâyoune is the main urban centre of the country, which was formerly the Spanish Sahara, and lies in an artificial oasis where, through irrigation, cereals and vegetables are grown.

The discovery of potable water at the site resulted in the establishment of a Spanish military garrison in 1938, marking the beginning of the town. In 1958, it was made the capital of Spain's new Sahara province. It was also the administrative and military centre. The Spanish authorities subsequently established a port on the Atlantic coast 18 miles from the town, along with facilities for the export of newly discovered phosphates. 

Laayoune (al-Ayun) is not within the internationally recognized borders of Morocco but in the occupied Western Sahara, where it is the largest city. Since the Moroccans took over the country in 1976, the city has experienced rapid growth due immigration from Morocco. It has a high per capita government spending because Western Sahara is somewhat a prestige project.

Morocco has sought to consolidate its control of the territory by launching large-scale infrastructure projects such as the construction of hospitals, schools, and a football stadium and the expansion of drinking water facilities, and it has given incentives to Moroccan professionals to work there.

The southern part of town, or "lower" town was built by the Spanish. There is an old Spanish cathedral that still has a rusting sign which says ‘property of the Spanish government’. The area called the chicken market (Souk Djaj) has some cheap hotels and displays some interesting architecture-eggshell-domed roofs that are meant to keep the houses cool. The modern monuments are very striking in comparison with the rest of the Western Sahara. The Colline des Oiseaux is in a landscaped garden and makSes for a pleasant visit. Exotic birds are housed in cages with blinds, to protect them from sandstorms.  

Reference:

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