Dire Dawa

Dire Dawa is an administrative division in eastern Ethiopia, functioning as a self-governing region with special status located between the Somali and Oromia regions. The city spreads across a wide valley where two main areas face each other: one district with grid streets and stone buildings, and an older quarter with narrow lanes and lower houses.

The settlement began in 1902 as a railway station halfway between the capital and the coast, quickly growing into a trade hub and later gaining special administrative status. After Djibouti's independence in the 1970s, the city remained a key terminus for goods from the interior.

The name means "where they settled" in several local languages, referring to workers who built the railway and stayed in the area. Markets and neighborhoods still show how different communities share daily spaces while keeping their own traditions.

The area sits at around 1200 meters (roughly 3900 feet) elevation in a hot and dry climate, so light clothing and plenty of water are advisable for visitors. The airport and several bus routes connect the city with the capital and surrounding regions.

A small French military cemetery from the railway construction period recalls the early colonial presence along the line. Further out, you can still find traces of old camel caravan routes that were the only links to the coast before the train arrived.

Location: Ethiopia

Inception: 1902

Elevation above the sea: 1,276 m

Reference: 15

Shares border with: Somali Region, Oromia Region

Address: Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Website: https://web.archive.org/web/20120325191237/http://www.dire-dawa.gov.et:80/site

GPS coordinates: 9.58333,41.86667

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:18