Welcoming foreign customers in your shop in Dakar

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Basic English, clear prices, bilingual menus, card and cash, teranga: a practical guide for Dakar shop owners welcoming foreign customers during the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Welcoming foreign customers in your shop in Dakar

Welcoming foreign customers in your shop comes down to a few simple things: basic English, clear prices, more than one way to pay and the famous Senegalese teranga. From 31 October to 13 November 2026, the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 will bring families of athletes aged 15 to 18, media crews and plenty of curious travellers to the city. Here is how to get ready on a small budget.

Basic English goes a long way

You do not need to be fluent: around twenty phrases cover most sales. Keep a laminated cheat sheet by the till:

  • Welcome, how can I help you?
  • This one is five thousand francs.
  • Cash or card?
  • One moment, please.

For numbers, type the amount on a calculator and show it. Visitors also love learning a quick "jërëjëf". To improve, browse language schools and training centres in Dakar.

Display prices and translate your menu

Visible prices build trust: many visitors walk past shops where nothing is marked.

  • Show prices in FCFA, readable from the door. A helpful reference: one euro is worth about 656 FCFA.
  • Add short English descriptions to your menu: "Thiéboudienne: rice with fish and vegetables", "Yassa chicken: onion and lemon sauce", "Mafé: peanut stew".
  • Flag peanuts and spicy dishes: foreign families watch for allergies.
  • Printing and laminating a few menus or signs usually costs between 2,000 and 10,000 FCFA, depending on size.

Bargaining is part of market culture, but a fair price offered straight away wins repeat customers.

Getting paid: card and cash

Visa is the most widely accepted foreign card in Dakar. Ask your bank about a card terminal, or put a clear "Cash only" sign at the entrance.

Cash remains essential in markets, taxis and small shops. Wave and Orange Money require a Senegalese SIM card and an ID, so most short stay visitors cannot use them. Keep plenty of small change, since visitors tend to arrive with large notes straight from the ATM. Know where the nearest cash machine is, too: bureaux de change are mostly at the airport and in central Dakar.

Patience, teranga and avoiding misunderstandings

Teranga is your strongest asset. Common friction points:

  • Waiting: give a realistic estimate ("about twenty minutes").
  • Greetings: taking time to greet is a sign of respect here. A rushed visitor may not see it that way, so adapt without taking offence.
  • Photos: ask before photographing a customer, and politely accept the same request about your stall.
  • Receipts: even a handwritten receipt prevents most disputes.
  • The "foreigner price": it damages the reputation of a whole neighbourhood.

Know how to give directions: the TER train runs from Dakar (Plateau) to Diamniadio via Colobane, Hann, Pikine and Rufisque. Events take place at venues such as the Complexe Tour de l'Œuf, the Complexe Iba Mar Diop in Médina, Dakar Arena in Diamniadio and on the beach in Saly. For schedules and tickets, point visitors to the organising committee's official website or app.

Train your team now

Whether you run a boutique in Plateau, a restaurant in Almadies or Ngor, a hair salon in Mermoz or a shop near the Rufisque and Diamniadio stations, October is the time to prepare:

  • Hold a fifteen minute practice session each morning: role play, prices in English, giving directions.
  • Name one English contact person per shift whom colleagues can call on.
  • Post emergency numbers at the till: 17 (police), 18 (fire brigade) and 1515 (SAMU ambulance).
  • Get found online: list your business for free on SeneFinder with your address, opening hours and payment options.

Know a shop that treats visitors well? Recommend an address.

Recommended addresses on SeneFinder

You can also see all addresses in this category or explore the Dakar directory.

Useful tools

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak fluent English to serve foreign customers?

No. Twenty or so key phrases, clearly displayed prices and a calculator to show amounts cover most situations.

Should I accept cards during Dakar 2026?

It is not mandatory, but it helps, because short stay visitors mostly pay in cash or with a Visa card. If you have no terminal, say so clearly and know where the nearest ATM is.

How can I make my shop easier for visitors to find?

Put bilingual French and English information on your shopfront, then list your business for free on SeneFinder. Visitors use it to search for places by neighbourhood and category.