Dahab, which means ‘gold’ in Arabic, was named after its golden beaches, lying on the east coast of the Sinai Peninsula on the Gulf of Aqaba. it is one of the most famous dive spots in the Red Sea for its unmatched relaxed surroundings and stunning diving.
A small town though you can have millions of experiences and adventures as it is the sunshine town of the Red Sea with a breath of fresh air and lots of things to do.
Dahab was formerly a bedouin fishing village which found fame in the 1960s as a hippie haven, as it was a popular stopover on the backpacking trail across Egypt and Israel.
Historically, most visitors to Dahab have been backpackers travelling independently and staying in hostels in the Masbat area.
It still retains that relaxed, ‘chilled’ atmosphere today, and it is considered to be one of the Sinai’s most treasured diving destinations and a place where individual travellers are still the rule rather than the exception.
The shops that line the sea-front promenade are full of tie-dye baggy pants, beaded jewellery and flip-flops (as well as the obligatory souvenir T-shirts, stuffed camels and pyramid shaped paper weights). The shop-keepers themselves are charming salesmen and bargaining can be a good fun !
Dahab means “gold” in Arabic as a reference to the area’s sandy coastline, but did you know…
The Bedouin are famous for their hospitality and have welcomed visitors from around the world in Dahab, some of whom have never managed to leave and decided to stay in this beautiful town!
The “locals” (Bedouin & Egyptian) rub shoulders with “ex-pats” and you are sure to find people from every continent represented.
The Bedouin form the cornerstone of life in Dahab and their way of life and family structure has remained unchanged for years.
Each family keeps goats and sheep which you will see roaming the streets of the town, and many are proud to own camels, providing a valuable means of work.
You cannot visit Dahab without being impressed with Bedouin craftwork, from the girls on the beach making and selling bracelets to elaborately stitched bags.
Designs and techniques of theses bedouin crafts have been passed from mother to daughter for generations and Bedouin craft make great souvenirs.
You’ll forge fond memories, not only of the beautiful places and unmatched relaxed atmosphere, but of the multi-cultural friendly locals, who together make this region a lovely cultural mosaic.
Religion is important to the majority of the locals and you will find mosques big and small throughout town. The call to prayer on a Friday – the Muslim holy day – is impressive!
Dahab lies on the western side of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea and it is located approximately 80 km (50 miles) northeast of the famous Sharm el-Sheikh resort, Egypt.
It is pretty simple to find your way around our small town, for even the most directionally challenged person, it is hard to get lost here as it can be divided into three major parts:
“Masbat“, which includes the bedouin village
“Asalah“, is in the north. South of Masbat is
“Mashraba”. In the southwest is “Madina” which includes the Laguna area which is famous for its excellent shallow-water and windsurfing.
Beautiful weather is one of the biggest pulls to the Sinai no matter how you plan to spend your days.
A bright blue sky and glorious sunshine are pretty much guaranteed. Even in winter months it is on the rare occasion that we have a cloudy day with maybe just maybe a drizzle of rain.
Summer highs of over 40 degrees Celsius are cooled by the north wind, whilst in the winter months find a sunny spot out of the wind for perfect tanning.
Even on the chilliest winter day it rarely drops below 17 degrees Celsius, making this the perfect winter sun holiday destination.
Low humidity helps to make the climate of Dahab easy to live with – no summer storms here!
In the early days of Dahab tourism, supply and variety of food was severely limited and chicken was a rare treat!
Now the town boasts an amazing array of excellent restaurants offering food for all tastes and budgets.
Places offering local Egyptian dishes rub shoulders with Thai, Chinese, Indian and Italian restaurants – try them all! Seafood is plentiful and cooked to order, and yes, the humble chicken shop is still a favorite!
One of the main attractions of Dahab is the unique on-the-ground restaurants with large cushions and low tables placed next to the sea, and decorated with colorful cloths, a mixture of Hippie and Bedouin styles developed over several decades.
Bedouin dinner in the mountain is a MUST – A “”Million Star”” dining experience under clear sky, millions of stars, one bright moon and delicious Bedouin made food.
Bars and bottle shops are dotted around the town offering local Egyptian beers, wines and a range of spirits. Some of the bars occasionally manage a supply of imported spirits, which is a special treat.
Beers and wine are offered in some restaurants, others who have no license have no problem with you bringing your own, but some are more traditional and do not allow alcohol on their premises. Just ask and nobody gets upset!
