Language
Overview
Official languages are Arabic and French. In addition, the Cushitic languages of the Afar and Issa are spoken. Hotel employees, taxi drivers and business people usually speak some English.
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
03/01/2022 Lailat al Miraj (Night of the Ascension)
05/01/2022 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
05/01/2022 Labor Day
06/27/2022 Independence Day
07/09/2022 Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
07/30/2022 El am Hejir (Islamic New Year)
10/09/2022 Milad un Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Muhammad)
12/25/2022 Christmas
Source: Top-mba-universities.com
The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset, which causes disruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening hours of shops and authorities) and therefore there may be restrictions for travelers.
Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day, and the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is restricted or e.g. T. even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes it must be taken into account that meals and drinks during Ramadan may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room.
Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as in respect of Islamic traditions.
Some interruptions may also occur during Eid al-Fitr. This festival, like Eid al-Adha, is indefinite and can last from 2-10 days depending on the region.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be brought into Djibouti duty-free: – 1 carton of cigarettes; – 1 bottle of alcoholic beverages; – a bottle of perfume or eau de toilette. Personal effects up to a weight of 3 kg and a value of 5,000 FD.
Prohibited Imports
Drugs, pornographic material, weapons. It is forbidden to import more than 1 liter of alcohol. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Contact addresses
Ambassade de la République Djibouti
Chemin Louis-Dunant 15
Geneva
Switzerland
+41 (0)22 749 10 90.
http://www.djibouti.ch/ambassade
http://www.djibouti.ch/ambassade
Mon-Fri 08.30-13.00 and 14.00-17.00.
Honorary Consulate of Djibouti
(without issuing a visa)
Reinlgasse 5-9
Vienna
Austria
+43 (0)1 982 26 28 and 982 23 57.
Appointments by telephone agreement.
Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti
Honorary Consulate in Munich.
(Visa also for Austria.)
Kurfürstenstr. 84
Berlin
Germany
+49 (0)30 26 39 01 57.
http://dschibouti-botschaft.de
http://dschibouti-botschaft.de
Mon-Thu 09.30-16.00, Fri 09.30-14.00. Visa and Passport Dept. 09.30-13.00.
Business
Business etiquette
Light tropical suits or summer dresses are appropriate for business meetings. French is the language of business. Interpreting and translation services are limited. Business hours: Sat-Thu 06.20-13.00.
Business contacts
Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Garrisonkirchplatz 1, 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel. +49 (0)30 278 90 70. Website: ghorfa.de/de Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce Lobkowitzplatz 1, PO Box 76, 1010 Vienna, Austria Tel. +43 (0)1 513 39 65. Website: aacc.at Chambre de Commerce de Djibouti (Chamber of Commerce) Place Lagarde, Rue de Athenes, Djibouti, Djibouti Tel. +253 (0)21 35 10 70.
Communication
Phone
International direct dialing. According to Abbreviationfinder.org, there are card phones in Djibouti city center.
Mobile phone
GSM 900. Network operator is Djibouti Telecom SA. Mobile phones can be rented at the main post office. There has been a roaming contract with Switzerland since November 2004. There is also an AMPS network, but reception is limited to the capital and the surrounding area.
Internet
Internet access is available in the main post office and in larger hotels. There are internet cafes in Djibouti. Internet provider: Société des Télécommunications Internationales de Djibouti (Internet: www.intnet.dj).
Post office
The main post office is located in the center of Djibouti opposite the main commissariat. Air mail to Europe takes about one week, by sea three weeks.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
