[1] The Ali Adde settlement dates back several centuries, and is one of the oldest towns in Djibouti after Tadjoura and Obock.

Ali Adde sits at an altitude of 530 metres or 1,740 feet above sea level, in low-shrouded mountains and hills.

Its weather is characterized by sweltering and dry summers and pleasant to very warm winters, when most of the precipitation is concentrated (spring and autumn being hot transitional seasons).

However, due to the town's altitude and inland location, its climatic features include the very low humidity, and temperatures usually falling below 26 °C (78.8 °F) at night, which makes summer distinctly less unpleasant compared to coastal cities.

Due to its 530 metres or 1,740 feet altitude, temperatures are relatively normal for a town located not particularly far from the hottest deserts in the world.

Before the UNHCR camp was opened, the local town population traditionally consisted of nomadic pastoralists, who were mainly camel and goat herders.