# Port of Djibouti and Doraleh (Dekada Jabuuti)

> Djibouti's ports in facts: the old port, Doraleh container and multipurpose terminals, Tadjourah and Ghoubet, Ethiopia's share of traffic, the dispute with DP World, and where sources differ.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/economy/port-of-djibouti/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## The short version

Djibouti sits at the southern entrance of the Red Sea. Its ports are the main sea route for Ethiopia: Oxford Business Group reported in 2018 that they handle roughly **95 percent of Ethiopia's imports**, and quoted a World Bank economist saying about **80 percent** of Djibouti's transport activity comes from Ethiopia ([Oxford Business Group, Djibouti 2018](https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/reports/djibouti/2018-report/economy/wind-in-their-sails-the-revamping-of-its-port-infrastructure-is-putting-djibouti-on-the-global-logistics-map)). TradeMark Africa gives about 95 percent of Ethiopia's imports and exports ([TradeMark Africa](https://trademarkafrica.com/?p=14654)). For the Djiboutian franc, see [The Djiboutian franc](/en/economy/djiboutian-franc/). For Somali ports, see [Somalia's seaports](/en/economy/ports/).

## The ports

From Oxford Business Group's 2018 report ([Oxford Business Group](https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/reports/djibouti/2018-report/economy/wind-in-their-sails-the-revamping-of-its-port-infrastructure-is-putting-djibouti-on-the-global-logistics-map)):

| Port | Opened | Cost | Capacity or size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doraleh Container Terminal | 2009 | | 928,000 TEU handled in 2017 | Built and run by DP World until February 2018 |
| Doraleh Multipurpose Port | May 2017 | $580 million | 2 million tonnes of bulk cargo a year; stores 100,000 tonnes of fertiliser and 100,000 tonnes of grain | Funded by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority and China Merchants |
| Tadjourah | June 2017 | | 5 million tonnes of minerals a year; two 455-metre quays | For potash from Ethiopia's Afar and Tigray areas; financed by the Arab Fund and the Saudi Fund for Development |
| Ghoubet | June 2017 | $64 million | 5 million tonnes of salt a year; 400-metre quay, 15-metre depth | For salt from Lake Assal |
| Damerjog livestock port | Planned for 2018; not started as of August 2018 | $70 million | 80,000 animals a month | For livestock to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Libya |

## The dispute with DP World

- **2006:** DP World received a 50-year concession for the Doraleh Container Terminal ([Khaleej Times, 2 October 2025](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/london-court-rules-djibouti-illegally-seized-dp-world-port)).
- **23 February 2018:** the government took control of the terminal. Djibouti cited mismanagement ([Oxford Business Group](https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/reports/djibouti/2018-report/economy/wind-in-their-sails-the-revamping-of-its-port-infrastructure-is-putting-djibouti-on-the-global-logistics-map); [DP World / Dubai Media Office, 12 July 2021](https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2021/july/12-07/arbitration-tribunal-rejects-djibouti-port-company-bid-to-escape-contract-with-dp-world)).
- **Earlier awards:** a tribunal of the [London](/en/diaspora/london/) Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) ordered Djibouti to pay the terminal company **$385 million** plus interest for breaking its exclusive rights by developing new container facilities with China Merchants ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/london-court-orders-djibouti-to-pay-385-million-to-dp-world-jv)).
- **October 2025:** an LCIA tribunal found the seizure unlawful and the concession still valid, but awarded no damages against the state port company, [Port de Djibouti](/en/infrastructure/port-of-djibouti/) SA, saying the harm came from the government directly. DP World says its awards against Djibouti total about **$685 million**, and that claims of about $1 billion against the government and China Merchants Port Holdings continue ([Khaleej Times, 2 October 2025](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/london-court-rules-djibouti-illegally-seized-dp-world-port)).
- **30 September 2025:** Djibouti issued a statement claiming victory and holding that it acted lawfully and that the dispute is over (same source).

## Ethiopia and Somaliland

In March 2018, days after the Doraleh seizure, Ethiopia agreed to take a 19 percent share in DP World's port at Berbera in [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) ([Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/ethiopia-acquires-19-stake-in-dp-world-berbera-port)). Ethiopia and Djibouti agreed in February 2026 to deepen cooperation at Doraleh ([AllAfrica, 27 February 2026](https://allafrica.com/stories/202602270391.html)). See [Port of Berbera](/en/economy/port-of-berbera/).

## Sources disagree

- **Ethiopia's share.** Figures of about 95 percent are given for Ethiopia's imports (Oxford Business Group), for its imports and exports (TradeMark Africa), and for its inbound trade (Africanews), all measured differently ([Africanews, 2 May 2018](https://www.africanews.com/2018/05/02/ethiopia-moves-to-take-stake-in-port-of-djibouti-after-pm-s-visit/)).
- **Cost of the multipurpose port.** Oxford Business Group gives $580 million; other reports give $590 million ([Engineering News, 23 June 2017](https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/djibouti-2017-06-23)).
- **The Doraleh seizure.** DP World and the LCIA tribunals call it unlawful; the government of Djibouti says it acted lawfully ([Khaleej Times, 2 October 2025](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/london-court-rules-djibouti-illegally-seized-dp-world-port)).

---
I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.