<p>Abiotic stresses lead to various morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular alterations that significantly hinder plant growth and metabolic functions, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Among these stresses, salinity poses a unique challenge, as different plant species exhibit varying responses to salt exposure. In Ethiopia, there is a scarcity of research focused on screening wheat germplasm for salt tolerance. Thus, the identification and characterization of germplasm are crucial for developing cultivars with enhanced salt tolerance. This study aimed to assess the response of improved durum wheat (<i>Triticum turgidum L.)</i> cultivars from Ethiopia to salinity stress under controlled in-vitro conditions. The effects of sodium chloride at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 150 milimolarity (mM) were evaluated on ten durum wheat cultivars at two growth stages, 14 and 21 DAI. Various quantitative traits were recorded, and cultivars were classified based on their mean salt tolerance index calculated from six key parameters. Results indicated that varieties such as Dambi, Fetan, Quami, Alamtena, Utuba, and Ude exhibited better growth performance under saline conditions compared to others. Conversely, Mangudo and Buhe showed moderate tolerance, while Tesfaye and Et-crosa were identified as more sensitive to salinity. The wheat cultivars demonstrating higher performance under salinity stress conditions may hold potential for further evaluation in saline environments and could contribute to future breeding programs aimed at improving salt tolerance. These findings provide a foundation for selecting promising germplasm for further breeding efforts and cultivation in areas affected by salinity.</p>