Natural resources include copper in the south in Djebel Ben Tagine.

[2] The oases' traditional economic basis was agriculture, notably growing date palms and grain.

The inhabitants of Igli speak Berber, and those of Tabelbala a Songhay language, Korandje; elsewhere, Arabic is spoken.

Trans-Saharan trade routes passing through this region played an important role in its economy in pre-modern times, but have at present been superseded.

During the administrative breakdown of 2015, the delegated wilaya of Béni Abbès is made up of 10 communes and 3 Districts