Laayoune (Maghrebi Arabic: لعيون, ; ; Berber: Leɛyun; Literary Arabic: , lit. "The Springs") is the largest city in Western Sahara. The modern city is thought to have been founded by the Spanish colonizer [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_de_Oro Antonio de Oro] in 1938. In 1940, Spain designated it as the capital of the Spanish Sahara El-Aaiún (Laâyoune) is the capital of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region under Moroccan administration.