Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport sits 6 kilometers south of Djibouti City. Ethiopian Airlines operates the most frequent international service with multiple daily flights to Addis Ababa. Turkish Airlines connects through Istanbul. Air France maintains service to Paris. Regional carriers including Fly Dubai and Kenya Airways serve the airport. Passengers arriving from yellow fever endemic countries must present vaccination certificates. The airport expanded its terminal capacity in 2018. Ground transport from the airport consists of taxis operating on negotiated fares rather than meters. The drive to central Djibouti City takes 15 minutes without traffic.
The Djiboutian franc has maintained a fixed exchange rate of 177.721 francs to one US dollar since 1973. Currency is abbreviated as DJF. Banks in Djibouti City include Banque pour le Commerce et l'Industrie-Mer Rouge, Saba Islamic Bank, and Bank of Africa. ATMs dispense local currency but availability outside Djibouti City is limited. Credit cards see acceptance at major hotels and some restaurants in the capital. Exchange services operate at the airport and in central Djibouti City. Euros and US dollars can be exchanged but British pounds and other currencies present difficulties. Mobile money services have expanded since 2015 but require local phone numbers for setup.
French and Arabic both serve as official languages. Government documents, road signs, and official communications appear in both languages. French dominates in business and education. Somali speakers comprise the largest linguistic group, particularly the Issa clan dialect. Afar speakers occupy the northern and western regions. English usage remains limited to tourism industry workers and international organization staff. Hotel receptionists and tour operators in Djibouti City typically speak English. Outside the capital, French becomes the practical lingua franca. Arabic appears primarily in religious contexts and administrative settings.
Djibouti operates on East Africa Time, three hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time year-round. The country does not observe daylight saving time. This places Djibouti in the same time zone as Addis Ababa, Mogadishu, Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam. The time difference with Paris varies between two and three hours depending on European daylight saving observation. Dubai sits one hour ahead. No internal time zones exist within Djibouti's 23,200 square kilometer territory.
Electrical current runs at 220 volts with frequency of 50 Hz. Djibouti uses European-style Type C and Type E plugs. Type C features two round pins. Type E includes two round pins with a hole for a grounding pin. North American and British devices require plug adapters and often voltage converters. Hotels in Djibouti City sometimes provide adapters at reception. Power outages occur in residential areas but major hotels maintain backup generators. The electrical grid expanded in 2017 with geothermal power additions from the Asal-Ghoubbet region.
Mobile phone coverage reaches Djibouti City and major towns through Djibouti Telecom. The network operates on GSM 900 and 1800 MHz bands. 3G and limited 4G coverage exists in urban areas. International roaming functions for most European and African carriers but often at high rates. Local SIM cards require passport presentation for registration. Prepaid packages start around 1000 DJF. Internet cafes operate in Djibouti City along Boulevard de la République. Connection speeds remain slower than European or North American standards. Hotels targeting international guests offer wifi but bandwidth often struggles with multiple users.
Medical facilities in Djibouti concentrate in Djibouti City. Hôpital Général Peltier serves as the main public hospital. Bouffard Hospital provides private care. The French military hospital treats French citizens and military personnel. Facilities outside the capital offer basic care only. Pharmacies in Djibouti City stock common medications but specialized drugs may be unavailable. Medical evacuation to Nairobi or Paris becomes necessary for serious conditions. International health insurance should include evacuation coverage. Doctors and nurses often speak French. Few speak English. The country maintains one physician per 5000 people according to 2019 World Bank data.
The Djiboutian government requires visas for most nationalities. Citizens of certain countries including Malaysia and Singapore receive visa-free entry. Electronic visa applications became available in 2018 through www.evisa.gouv.dj. Single entry tourist visas cost approximately 90 USD for 90 days. Applications require passport scans, photos, and hotel confirmation. Processing takes 3 to 7 days. Visas on arrival remain available at Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport but advance application reduces arrival delays. Land border crossings from Ethiopia and Somaliland also process visas but require more time. Extensions are processed through immigration offices in Djibouti City. Business visas require invitation letters from Djiboutian companies.
Accommodations in Djibouti City range from budget guesthouses around 30 USD per night to international chain hotels exceeding 200 USD. Sheraton Djibouti and Kempinski Palace Djibouti target business travelers and expatriates. Mid-range hotels along Boulevard de la République charge 60 to 100 USD.