Dire Dawa is city in Harar region, Ethiopia. It is a commercial and industrial center located on the Addis Ababa--Djibouti railroad. Manufactures include processed meat, vegetable oil, textiles, and cement. There are also railroad workshops in the city. Dire Dawa was founded in 1902 when the railroad from Djibouti reached the area, and its growth has resulted largely from trade brought by the railroad.