Dire Dawa

With a population size of 281.000, Dire Dawa is Ethiopia’s second largest city (with a latitude and longitude of 9°35′N 41°52′E), located in the east of the country. With a hot and arid climate, Dire Dawa lies on the Dechatu River, at the foot of a ring of cliffs. It was founded in 1902 after the Addis Ababa - Djibouti Railway reached the area. The railroad could not reach the city of Harar at its higher elevation, so Dire Dawa was built nearby. Its low-lying location next to the Dechatu River made it ideal for settlement, and it soon became a vibrant cosmopolitan center, as Greek, Turkish, Arab, French, and Indian merchants settled to make use of the railway. Dire Dawa is therefore one of two chartered cities in Ethiopia; the other one being Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

Dire Dawa is connected to Addis Ababa and the historical city of Harar by road. However, it is recommended to fly to Dire Dawa’s international airport or take the train (reservation strongly suggested) from Addis Ababa to get into the city.

Dire Dawa’s official working language is Amharic, but other commonly spoken languages include Oromiffa, Somalae, and Guragae.

The UCBP in Dire Dawa

Contractor: Flintstone Engineering
PO Box 559, Code 1110
Addis Ababa
flintstone@ethionet.et
Tel.: 011-416-8977
         011-466-9682
Fax: 011-416-8978

Site Office:
GTZ-IS Dire Dawa
P.O. Box 1842
Tel. 0251 12 73 92
Fax. 0251 12 73 93

MH Engineers: Fikadu Temer