The capital of governorate was Harar, but Dire Dawa was the most important city. In the territories around these two cities more than 10,000 Italian colonists went to live since 1937 creating some manufacturing industries (after the area was pacified from the Arbegnoch guerrilla). In November 1938 some territory of Harar in the Scioa region was given to the neighboring Addis Abeba Governorate, enlarging it to the Scioa Governorate.
Italian troops in the Dire Dawa railway station in 1936
The Harar governorate was subdivided in the "Commissariati" of Arussi, Cercer, Dire Dawa, Ghimir, Giggiga, Goba, Harar and Adama.