Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal. Dakar is the westernmost city on the African mainland and is a major regional port.

Senegal is in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania. The climate is tropical, hot and humid with a rainy season (May to November) and a dry season (December to April).

The official language is French. It is widely spoken in towns and slightly less frequently in rural areas. Wolof is spoken by the majority of the population, particularly in urban areas, and is increasingly used in the business world. English is becoming more widely spoken. The main religion is Islam.

The economy of Senegal is predominantly rural with limited natural resources and gains most of its foreign exchange from fish, phosphates, groundnuts, tourism, and services.

Expatriate business dress is relatively formal. Senegal is officially a secular state, however more than 90% of the population is Muslim. Expatriate women should therefore dress conservatively by covering their legs and arms.

The security risk for expatriates in Senegal is low overall, but medium for Casamance. Risks include petty theft, violent protest action, and in the south of Casamance risks also include bandits, separatist groups and landmines. Other risks include the low driving standards and poor road conditions.

The currency of Senegal is the CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF). While ATMs are available in Dakar not all international cards are accepted. Major credit cards are accepted at larger establishments.

Medical facilities are reasonable in Dakar but limited in the rest of the country. Malaria and other tropical diseases are common. Occasional outbreaks of cholera have been reported.

The population of Dakar is 2.5 Million (2016 est.), while the inflation rate is 1.4% (June 2017).

The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Dakar as at 1 July 2017 is high in comparison to other places in the world.

Dakar is ranked as a extreme hardship location.