About Dahab

Sinai & Dahab

The Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt. It lies between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, forming a land bridge between Africa and Southwest Asia. The Sinai is a region rich in history and culture. The local Bedouin who have inhabited the peninsula for thousands of years are still living throughout the Sinai today.

Dahab is one of a few beach side villages that is still largely inhabited by local Bedouin. Once you drive out into the desert the sights and experiences are endless. From St Catherine’s Monastery (the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in the world) and climbing to the top of Mount Sinai (where Moses was said to have received the 10 commandments) to geological wonders in the forms of gorges, canyons, sand dunes and oasis’, there is something for everyone!

The word Dahab is Arabic for gold and is possibly a reference to the geographic locality; gold washed down from the desert mountains may have accumulated on the alluvial flood plain where the town was built. The name may also be a reference to the colour of the sands to the south of the town itself. Some locals attribute the name to the colour of the sky, just after sunset. Dahab is a small town situated on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula.

Formerly a Bedouin fishing village, located approximately 80 km (50 miles) northeast of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab is still considered to be one of the Sinai’s most treasured diving and windsurfing destinations.

At the southern beach promenade you can see the foundation walls of a harbour found in 1989 and not far from it there was a lighthouse. This harbour was a storage place for trade goods of Maqnah (Saudi Arabia) which you can see opposite the coast from Dahab.

During the 80’s and 90’s Dahab was a meeting place for hippies and backpackers, with its relaxed beach culture and café’s many travellers ended up staying longer than they expected. The arrival of international hotel chains and the establishment of other facilities has now made this a popular destination with tourists from all over the world.

Dahab is full of adventure and activities: scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, horse riding, quad biking & desert safaris, hiking, yoga, dance classes and many more. For more details have a look under Activities.

Travel Info

Visa and documentation

For European citizens it is far easier to buy a visa on arrival than from the Egyptian embassy in your home country. During your flight you’ll be given a form to fill in to be able to collect your visa at Sharm airport on arrival. The ‘Full’ visa will be valid for one month and give you the freedom to travel throughout Egypt.

Also available is a ‘Sinai only’ visa, although travel limitations apply, such as Ras Mohammed National Park and St Katherine’s Monestary. If you think you might travel to these destinations then we highly advise a ‘full’ visa, as it’s very difficult to ‘upgrade’ after entering the country.

It is recommended to make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months.

Please check the Egyptian Embassy website of your country to view the latest entrance visa rules.

Money

The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (LE), which can be bought in all major currencies from the multiple banks and exchanges throughout Egypt. ATM machines are also widely available accepting Visa, Mastercard, Maestro as well as EC and Cirrus Cards. Please be aware of that your bank will charge you a transfer fee around 5.-€. For the latest exchange rate click here.

Tips for selfcatering

Although not yet as developed as other cities in the Sinai, Dahab has plenty of supermarkets in town and near to the apartment. The biggest is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, where you can find almost everything for home catering. You might not find some of the familiar brands or the huge variety found at home, but most items are available, and a few delicious local specialities in addition. Special items like soya milk, special pasta sauces, dressings and imported meats are also now available in selected shops in town. Please let us know if you have any special dietary needs or request specific foods we will do our best to inform you of their availability. Ralph’s German Bakery produces home-baked white/brown/rye bread and rolls, cakes, pastries and coffee to go. In the main market area in Assalah there are also plenty of fresh vegetables available in the street stalls and shops. Off-licenses and fish mongers are also there, all just five minutes from your apartment.

We recommend bringing home goodies you don’t want to miss out on, such as pork products, favourite sauces and brands of tea.

Self catering in Dahab has never been easier. Please ask if you have any questions.

Weather

For live weather and forecast click here.

Around Dahab

Sinai Scapes – Images by Graeme Fordham