The history of Metlaoui dates back to prehistoric times. To the west of the city, in the agricultural region of Sakdoud, we find prehistoric remains, including countless megalithic monuments such as Bir El Hamara, Bir El Hamairia, and Gourbata. These monuments are also distinguished by the presence of traces of the Capsian people. Punic remains remain in the form of forts built for security reasons on mountaintops. Within the Thalaja Mountains, there are Roman ruins, specifically in the Mkhifia region, as well as the Limes and Roman defensive walls that extend from the Chebika region to the south of Metlaoui. The Middle Ages witnessed the arrival of Arabs: the Hamama, specifically in the Sidi Bouzid plain, and the Ouled Bouihi, in their current location in the Metlaoui region.

When the French arrived in these areas, they found the population practicing agriculture and herding. The city experienced strong development under French protection, with the discovery of phosphate in 1885, a few kilometers away at the foot of Mount Thalja, first by Philippe Thomas. Industrial exploitation began in 1896 with the concession granted to the Phosphate and Railway Company (SCP) and the construction of a 250-km railway line between Sfax and Metlaoui to transport the ore to the port, where it was exported or processed locally. To date, phosphate is extracted from eight mining centers, with Metlaoui being the main one. Furthermore, most of the SCP’s facilities are located in Metlaoui, with production, maintenance, research, procurement, and other entities directly linked to production activity.