Laghouat is the capital city of the Laghouat Province, Algeria, 400 km south of the Algerian capital Algiers in the Atlas Mountains. It has about 125,000 inhabitants (2005). Nearby, (in Hassi R'Mel) there is the largest natural gas reserve in Africa.

The city was founded in the 11th Century. In 1852, the French took over the city. Since 1962, it is Algerian.