It’s a very newly constructed city that has not more than 40 years, lies on the southeast coast of Sinai peninsula in Egypt, approximately 80 km northeast of Sharm el sheik.
Formerly a Bedouin fishing spot, Dahab is now considered one of Egypt’s most treasured diving spots.
After the six-day war, Sinai was occupied by Israel, and Dahab became known as (di zahav), after a place mentioned in the bible as one of the stations for Israelites during the exodus from Egypt.
The Sinai peninsula was restored to Egyptian rule under the Egypt Israel peace treaty in 1979.
Egypt’s president Mubarak helped the arrival of many local and international tourism companies, hotel chains, and many other ancillary facilities, making the town resorts a popular destination. The airport serves Dahab in Sharm el sheik.
The popular spot for diving (masabat) and more than 50 dive centers are located in Dahab. Most of Dahab’s diving spots are shore dives.
Dahab can be divided into three major parts
- Masbat, which includes the Bedouin village asalah, is in the north.
- Mashraba, which is south of Masbat which is more tourist and has considerably more hotels.
- Madina: lies on the southwest, which includes the laguna area, famous for its excellent shallow-water windsurfing.
The region of asalah is quite developed and has many campsites and hotels. Most people who have visited Dahab were backpackers interested in diving and snorkeling in the red sea. The town of Dahab has around 20000 inhabitants.
Tourism
Darab attracts large numbers of tourists.
It is world-renowned for its windsurfing.
Reliable winds provide superb flat-water conditions inside Dahab’s sand spit.
Further away from shore, wavy conditions couple with strong winds to provide challenging conditions for keen windsurfers. However, in recent years, the lagoon inside the sand spit has been overtaken by kitesurfers, with two Russian school owners opening right on the beach. Scuba diving, freediving, and snorkeling are popular activities, with many reefs immediately adjacent to waterfront hotels. The nearby blue hole ( known as the tomb of divers ) because many people died in this spot is considered the most dangerous diving site globally.
According to land activities, rock climbing, camel riding, horse riding, cycling, mountain cycling, biking trips, jeep, and quad bike trips. Mount Sinai is two hours drive, with Saint Catherine’s monastery being a popular tourist destination.
According to the name of this city, it has an amusing history. The first bedouin who settled in Dahab called it “zahaab, “which means someone went somewhere “because when one goes to this place loses track of time, and when travelers came to this place, there was a misunderstanding that there was a misunderstanding dahan means gold not go.
Attraction in Dahab
In Ras Abu galum, there are the most prominent attractions in the city. Dive area and nature reserve. Some of the most famous dive spots in the world.
In al asala there is a region of kanoun which is one of the best diving areas, about 75 % of the population of the city is divided into three areas: Mubarak city, zarnouk, al-asala) coral island, and the remains of a historical fortress built by the crusaders,
There is a road parallel to the shore, including hotels, cafes, and guest houses. The prominent neighborhood starts with alfanar street and then Masbate bay. It includes a wide range of shops, diving clubs, cafes, camps, and hotels. It includes a large number of cafeterias and diving centers. It also includes the only impact there is tel mashraba. It is located in the old city of Dahab.
