daïras

Daïras are administrative divisions used in Algeria to organize the territory between the province (wilaya) and the municipality (commune). The term, derived from the Arabic daïra meaning circle or district, is commonly written with the diaeresis: daïra. The concept exists in other Maghrebi contexts, but in Algeria it denotes a clearly defined tier of administration within each wilaya. Each wilaya comprises several daïras, and each daïra contains one or more communes. The number of daïras varies by wilaya.

A daïra has a seat, usually the main town within the district, and is headed by a chef de daïra who is appointed by the central government and reports to the wali (governor) of the wilaya. The chef de daïra supervises the district's civil administration, coordinates public services across the communes, and represents the state at district level. In practice, the daïra serves as an administrative and coordination layer that links the communes with the province.

Functions include overseeing the implementation of national and local policies at the district level, civil registration and documentation, urban planning coordination, management of development projects, and facilitation of inter-communal cooperation. The daïra cabinet may organize meetings with commune representatives and monitor service delivery on behalf of the state.

The daïra system reflects Algeria's three-tier territorial organization and remains a standard unit in the country's administrative geography, alongside wilayas and communes. See also Administrative divisions of Algeria, Wilaya, Commune.