When you think of Dar es Salaam, the largest city and economic engine of Tanzania, a bustling port on the Indian Ocean coast. Also known as Dar, it's home to over five million people and handles nearly all of Tanzania’s international trade. This isn’t just a city—it’s a lifeline for landlocked neighbors like Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Trucks roll out daily from its docks carrying everything from coffee to copper, and ships arrive with fuel, machinery, and consumer goods that keep the region moving.
Dar es Salaam’s growth has been raw and rapid. Streets that were quiet two decades ago are now packed with boda-bodas, street vendors, and new high-rises. The city’s skyline is changing, with luxury apartments rising next to informal settlements. Public transport is strained, but new rail projects like the Standard Gauge Railway aim to connect it to the interior and reduce congestion. The port itself is expanding, with Chinese and Emirati investment turning it into one of Africa’s most modern terminals. Yet, power outages, flooding during rainy season, and uneven access to clean water remain daily realities for many.
It’s also a cultural crossroads. Swahili is spoken everywhere, but you’ll hear Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, and English too. Music from Dar—like taarab and dansi—echoes across East Africa. The city’s markets, from Kariakoo to Mwenge, are where you find everything from fresh fish to imported electronics. And while it doesn’t get the global spotlight of Cape Town or Nairobi, Dar is where Tanzania’s future is being built—brick by brick, cargo ship by cargo ship.
Below, you’ll find stories that reflect Dar es Salaam’s pulse: from infrastructure battles to economic shifts, from local sports events to regional policy moves that touch its people. These aren’t just headlines—they’re snapshots of a city in motion.
US-based Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi accuses President Samia Suluhu Hassan's government of pressuring Meta to delete her social media accounts ahead of December 9 protests, as she faces charges including inciting violence and money laundering in Dar es Salaam.
