It is the site of an experimental station for wind and solar power generation for desalination.

[1] The town is a major transport hub and border crossing, for trade by road between Tunisia and Libya.

The nearest Tunisian railhead, albeit of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) guage, is at Gabès.

[3] On 27 August, the border town was secured by the National Transitional Council forces.

As of 2019, the population of the small coastal town of Ra's Ajdir is 6,469 people consisting of 6,023 Libyans, 306 Tunisians, 87 Algerians, 31 Italians, 9 Chadians, 7 Egyptians, and 6 Maltese.