Dahab

Dahab is a popular tourist destination. It is known all around the globe for its windsurfing. Inside Dahab’s sand spit, consistent breezes provide ideal flat-water conditions. Wavy conditions combine with strong winds farther out from the beach to provide challenging conditions for keen windsurfers. However, in recent years, kitesurfers have taken over the lagoon within the sand spit, with two Russian-owned schools operating directly on the beach. Many reefs are located directly near to seaside hotels, making SCUBA diving, free-diving, and snorkeling popular sports. The neighboring Blue Hole and Canyon, dubbed “The World’s Most Dangerous Diving Site” and “The World’s Most Dangerous Diving Site,” are globally recognized diving locations. The rising destruction of coral by irresponsible divers/dive centers is a major problem that is raising concern, prompting the need for more stringent regulation of dive centers. Camels, horses, cycling, mountain bike tours, jeep and quad bike journeys are all examples of land-based activities. Mount Sinai is a two-hour journey away, including the famed tourist site of Saint Catherine’s Monastery.

The majority of tourists to Dahab in the past have been backpackers who slept in hostels, hotels, or guesthouses in the Masbet region. The expansion of hotels in the Medina region has permitted the arrival of a broader spectrum of visitors in recent years, many of whom come to Dahab particularly to participate in activities like as surfing, windsurfing, diving, kite surfing, sailing, and other water sports.

The term Dahab means “gold” in Egyptian Arabic, and it may allude to the town’s location; gold flowed down from the desert highlands and piled on the alluvial flood plain where the town was established. It’s also possible that the name refers to the color of the dunes to the town’s south. The name comes from the color of the sky just after sunset, according to some residents.

According to one local legend, the town’s name is derived from the floods that occur every five or six years. Larger-than-average seasonal storms in the highlands create a massive flow of water to pour down to the sea, pulling large volumes of sand behind it. During this time, the flood splits the town in two, and the bay is churned up, turning the beaches a bright yellow. It usually lasts a few days and has resulted in property damage and deaths in the past because people were unaware of the abrupt onset and the force with which the water travels. Locals are now prepared when they see clouds over the mountains, and anybody who is fortunate enough to experience it will remember it for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, since untrained divers are being brought out in large numbers, much of the coral on the reefs near offshore is progressively vanishing. Another major issue in Masbat is that local eateries are throwing sand and gravel into the water to stretch out towards the coast, disrupting local coral reefs once more.

Local Bedouin youngsters, often encouraged by their families, sell weaved bracelets to visitors at beach cafés and restaurants.

The surge of female beach visitors, who often dress in more exposing attire, creates a culture to the area that is unexpected.

Dahab, like the rest of Egypt, has a hot desert environment. The weather in the summer is very hot during the day and much hotter at night. The days are warm in the winter, while the nights are comfortable. Even during the winter months, Dahab has a fairly dry environment with little rain.

The month of March sees the most precipitation.

By bus from Cairo, it takes 9 hours and departs many times daily from Turgoman station (central), Abbasseya station (30 minutes from the center), and Heliopolis (near airport). Not all buses run from/to every station. It is best to purchase tickets in advance, particularly for the night bus (departs Abbasseya midnight, arriving Dahab 9am).

By bus from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport: The most difficult aspect is getting from the airport to the Sharm bus terminal. Taxis often charge between 80 and 100 LE for this 10 kilometer journey. Try walking towards the airport site exit and telling them you’ll get a cab (or microbus) outside. They’ll tell you it’s impossible and that there’s no longer a bus to Dahab – just keep going. The blue microbus costs one pound every journey, however you must change buses once to reach the bus terminal. Many cabs are denied airport authorization. You’ll be OK if you can bargain them down to 30 LE for the journey to the bus stop.

The bus timetable from Sharm to Dahab is as follows: 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 14:30, 17:00, and 20:30. As of October 2013, only the 9:00, 15:30, and 17:00 departure times have been confirmed. Dahab to Sharm bus schedules are as follows: 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:30, 12:30, 15:00, 16:00, 17:30, 19:30, 20:30, 21:30, 22:00, 22:20

Dahab Bus Office: +20-69-3641-808, although they seldom pick up.

By bus to St. Catherine: As of the end of October 2011, a twice-weekly minibus service to and from St. Catherine is available. The Bedouin Bus operates on Tuesdays and Fridays and costs 50LE one trip. Details about pick-up and drop-off locations in Dahab and St. Catherine may be found on the website.

Taxi from SSH: The listed fee is $98; however, an experienced Dahab traveler would never spend more than 150 LE ($23) for the whole ride to Dahab (bargaining generally starts at 300-400 LE, sometimes higher). Make your own decision, but don’t go over the 250 LE limit. A cab from Dahab to the airport may readily be had for $20 (135 LE) with minimal haggling. Decide on a price that “including all taxes, tips, and tickets.” Before you leave the airport, exchange money. You may ask the Information desk to take you to the ATM in the departures section through security. If you are trapped, drivers will accept euro or dollars, although you may wind up paying a little extra. It’s difficult to negotiate a cab at the airport; it’s advisable to phone a taxi driver before you arrive.

A negotiation tip: enter it in good faith. It’s unusual for Europeans to have to haggle for everything, but it’s the standard here. “I paid this much a week ago and a driver was pleased,” typically works.

If you don’t want to haggle, ask for an airport pickup via your hotel or camp. Check through E-Mail at least one week in advance; response times may vary. As part of a package booking, such service should be limited to 150 LE.

By private minibus from Sharm el-Sheikh: 35 Euros for transportation from the airport or city to Dahab (price is total, not per person, correct as of Jan 2013)

From Taba, there is one bus every day at 3:00 p.m., which costs 45 LE (Jan 2015). Taxis cost between 350 and 400 LE. The 175-kilometer travel takes around 2.5 hours, depending on how long you wait at the multiple security checks. (As of November 2014)

A ferry connects Aqaba, Jordan. The best way to get to the Nuweiba boat station is via cab. The 10:30 a.m. bus to Nuweiba arrives early enough to catch the 3 p.m. swift ferry to Aqaba. In congested areas, you can count on the quick boat to arrive on time. During slower periods, it is preferable to arrive at the ferry station around 11 a.m. to reserve tickets. Sometimes the quick boat operates, and other times just the slow ferry. If you’re taking the slow boat, board and travel right away; if you’re using the quick ferry, go to little duna or Terabin to rest for a couple of hours before sailing. Keep your driver with you till you know which ship you’re on Because it’s a lengthy walk from the port to the lovely parts of Nuweiba.

You’ll be brought directly to your hotel via cab.

You will arrive at the Dahab bus station in the Medina via bus. When you arrive at the bus terminal, you will be mobbed by a throng of taxi drivers eager to force you into their vehicle. If you don’t resist, you’ll wind up spending a ludicrous amount of money. A reasonable fee would be 5 LE within the median/Laguna region, or 10 LE into Masbat/Mashraba. Paying more reinforces their aggressive behavior.

If a decent 20- to 25-minute walk doesn’t frighten you off, you may walk as well, whether as a bargaining tactic or to disassociate from the uncomfortable scenario. Standing in front of the bus terminal (buses arrive at the rear), facing the entrance, and gazing at the “East Delta Travel” sign: turn right, proceed a few meters, turn left into “Dr. Ahmed Zwel St.,” and go about 200 meters. Take the first right onto “El Nasr Road.” Turn left at the pharao statue after about 300 meters onto “El Mashraba St.” Take the way less traveled. After 400 meters, you’ll come upon a two-dolphin monument; keep going, you’re nearly there. The road will soon make a 90-degree left bend, and you will see several building sites as well as the beach. Turn left and walk into Mashraba by following the road.

Dahab is divided into three separate sections.

1. Masbat Bay is in the center, approximately equally split by a floodway (the funny bridge over dry sand – except during a rare but impressive flash flood). Masbat’s tourism area extends north to Eel Garden (or Meleil as the Bedouin name it) and south via Mashraba. A corniche stretches the length of this beach. This is considered center Dahab, and it has everything you need.
2. The Laguna is a short cab trip south (El Goze). The Corniche comes to an end here in the south. Dahab’s earliest resort hotels may be found here (Hilton etc.). All municipal services are also available, including a bus station, a hospital, and a city council.
3. Assalah: the residential neighborhood, which is mostly Bedouin but also has some international expats and Egyptians living among the Bedouin.

Outlying hotels: There are around 15 outlying resort hotels stretching north towards the Blue Hole and south to Wadi Gnai, which are mostly booked as package vacations.

Plus, Dahab is surrounded by two protected areas: Nabq Protected Area in the south, which begins at Wadi Gnai, and Ras Abu Galoum Protected Area in the north, which begins at the Blue Hole. In all, 52 percent of the Gulf of Aqaba shoreline is designated as a protected area, which is critical for regulating expansion and protecting the reef and eco system. Except for traditional Bedouin dwellings, no construction is permitted in Protected Areas.

Shared taxis, which are essentially minibuses, are an inexpensive method to commute locally. Because shared taxis adhere to a schedule, they are handy if you have missed the day’s bus to neighboring destinations like as Sharm el-Sheikh, or if you need to get into Dahab upon coming from the Aqaba boat. If you don’t have a vehicle, take a cab to the border, walk over, then get a shared taxi on the other side to go to Dahab from Eilat.

Walking around Dahab is straightforward; the promenade runs directly down the coastline, and all of the normal facilities are situated along it. Bicycles would be a wonderful mode of transportation, however most rental bicycles are badly maintained and so in poor condition. Many firms are clearly uninterested in the bicycle-rental component of their company, claiming high costs and imaginative time definitions (“1 day” = 6 hours). Even huge and ostensibly respected companies are not immune to flaws in this area.

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This beach is within a 10-minute taxi ride from Dahab’s downtown. This location is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving, and it serves as a starting point for diving expeditions. Windsurfing is one of the most popular sports on this beach.

Excursions are organized to adjacent coral reefs and underwater caverns near various Dahab beaches. As a safety precaution, patrons who want to participate in deep sea diving expeditions are urged to get suitable training and a diving course.

When it comes to its dunes and waterways, Palm Beach has a particular tint. Palm Beach’s beaches are gray, while the seas are blueish. People may enjoy the weather and sunbathe on the beach. The most athletic and courageous visitors may surf the waves and swim in Palm Beach’s dark blue seas. Horses may also be ridden.

There are several parasols and picnic places for the whole family. The beach goes along Algeria’s Mediterranean Sea.

The Gulf of Aqaba separates this bay from Saudi Arabia. The beach is about a 60-minute drive from Sharm el Sheikh Airport. The flat seas and minimal severity of the waves make this an ideal location for fast windsurfing.

Divers go to Dahab to see the diverse marine wildlife. The pipe fish, a close cousin of the seahorse, is one of these marine species. There are many hoops linked to concrete pieces along the shore. Divers may use these hoops to assess their buoyancy.

This bay, which is close to the settlement of Assalah, is also known as “Fun Park.” Surfers appreciate this bay because it provides a range of breezes, from powerful gusts for experienced surfers to calm winds for novices.

This is a fantastic area to encounter the Bedouins. Locals often give visitors rides to the mountains and to a neighboring oasis. The majority of the time, travelers have the opportunity to go on the back of a camel. Camel rides are a popular pastime on any of Dahab’s several beaches.

The blue hole, maybe Dahab’s most renowned sight, is essentially a massive hole in the Red Sea. From the air, it appears like a dark blue circle in the water. This is a popular dive location, however it is also an extremely hazardous dive site. The risk arises from the temptation of “the arch,” a passage in the wall of the blue hole that links it to the open sea. Many divers, even skilled divers, visit the location and are unable to resist the desire to discover and travel through the tunnel. As a result, many individuals have perished there. Overall, it’s an intriguing spot to see and dive, but don’t try the arch!

In Dahab, the most “traditional” thing to do is nothing. It’s one of the greatest spots in the world to indulge in this most exquisite desire, and it’s a big part of Dahab’s reputation among travelers. Anyway, if “doing” anything to you implies “action” or “sites,” you have a wide range of options:

• Windsurfing
• Kite surfing
• Scuba diving
• Freediving
• Desert excursions
• Desert Trekking
• Rock Climbing
• Sandboarding
• Yoga, Reiki, Chi Gong, etc.
• Horse back riding (& camel riding of course!)
• Quad bikes
• Learn Arabic

Dahab has roughly 270 days of wind every year. Surfers with their own equipment may also surf from Masbat Bay, although they must exercise extreme caution not to collide with the snorkelers and freedivers on Lighthouse Reef. Kitesurfing may be done in the lagoona region, at Eel Garden, or at other nearby locations. Recently, several kiters have begun to visit the Laguna in Ras Abu Galoum – a gorgeous spot with just 1 or 2 kites rather than 10 or 20!

Diving and freediving are quite popular in Dahab and need a little more explanation. The reefs here are still in reasonably decent condition near town, and outstanding condition in Protected Areas such as Ras Abu Galoum. Abu Helal, Blue Hole, The Bells, Canyon, Coral Garden, Eel Garden, Lighthouse, Moray Garden, Islands, Three Pools, Gabr El Bint, and Ras Abu Gallum are among the well-known diving destinations.

The Blue Hole is one of the top ten diving destinations in the world and may be dived within safe recreational depths (that is, without going to the arch). Bells / Blue Hole is a very popular and picturesque location. However, be warned that it is busy because to the large number of buses that arrive from Sharm. A typical dive at the Bells, a chimney that drops down to 30 meters perpendicular (a thrilling experience! ), requires excellent open water abilities. Otherwise, you are not permitted to travel beyond 30 yards! Freediving is the new kid on the block in Dahab, due to the highly handy Blue Hole location and an ever-growing number of world-class freedivers training here.

Bedouin Divers

A well-known diving facility on the Red Sea coast in Dahab’s Mashraba region. Bedouin Divers is located at the Bedouin Lodge Hotel and offers Daily Diving, PADI Courses, Camel Dive Safaris, and Boat Dives.

Big Blue Dahab

+20 (0)69 3640 045.

Is a fully equipped 5 Star Gold Palm Padi resort meters from the reef, offering a peaceful and inviting atmosphere excellent for snorkeling and diving. With an emphasis on safety and pleasure, as well as environmental consciousness. Small dive groups with highly skilled instructors and divemasters allow you to enjoy a complete variety of Padi courses and guided dives at reasonable pricing.

Blue Realm

+201227444873, e-mail: [email protected] 8am-8pm. mobile +20 122 744 4873;.

Excellent native-run diving facility (offered in English, Dutch, German, French, and Arabic; the owner’s wife is really Dutch). They charge €45 for two dives (plus extra for gear rental). There are package savings available. A 5-day PADI Open Water course here costs €260, which includes all equipment.

BlueSkunk Freedivers

Provides a comprehensive and progressive selection of courses, including Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Deep. The course does not aim to drive you to a new personal best since it prioritizes technique improvement and depth adaptation above increasing depth. First and foremost, safety.

Dahab Divers

+20 69 3640381, +20 10 1113481, e-mail:[email protected]

PADI 5 star Golden Palm Resort and Diving School near Masbat’s Lighthouse. Staff is kind, the ambiance is pleasant, and the equipment is of high quality. Team Blue Immersion operates the technical diving facilities at Dahab Divers, offering TDI, TecRec, and GUE programs up to Instructor Level. (http://www.blue-immersion.org/ and http://www.dahabdiverstechnical.com/)

Deep BlueDivers

+20 121134668,

Deep BlueDivers is a fully equipped 5 Star Gold Palm Padi resort meters from the coral. We perform our business, which is obviously diving, in the Red Sea. In all of our Red Sea scuba diving adventures, we take satisfaction in being enthusiastic, professional, and individualized. With an emphasis on safety and pleasure, as well as environmental consciousness. Small dive groups with highly skilled instructors and divemasters allow you to enjoy a complete variety of Padi courses and guided dives at reasonable pricing.

Desert Divers

Diving, climbing, trekking, and freediving are all options. Said, the owner, was the first Bedouin in Dahab to learn to dive approximately 20 years ago. On the main bay’s beach (Masbat Bay, between the bridge and Lighthouse Reef). Ideal for scuba diving and freediving (PADI 5 Star Gold Palm Resort, Home of the Camel Diving Safari and AIDA Freediving Centre). Given their Bedouin background, they have also pioneered professional hiking and rock climbing. Their attempts to mix adventure sports and tourism with the Bedouin population are well-received; they recently received an EU grant for developing and promoting sustainable tourism in Sinai.

“Dive In Dahab”

Andreas (Andy) Tischer created the company in 1999. Hans Lange joined Dive In as Andy’s partner in 2006. Hans exited the Dive. iDive Dahab was developed in 2011.

Dive The Gap

Is a scuba diving gap year and professional development firm based in a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Resort and National Geographic Centre. Dive The Gap is a UK-based company that mostly works in Dahab and offers a variety of scuba diving programs. Almost every PADI course, from Open Water through Instructor and PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, is offered, as well as a comprehensive selection of PADI specialties, diving safaris, and recreational diving. Packages are also available, and a crew is on-site. Call 020 8133 4481 (+44 20 8133 4481) and you will be connected to the staff in Egypt at no additional cost.

Dive Pro Dahab

Is a firm founded by divers for divers in order to assist them get the most out of their diving holiday. Because it is spread out around the Red Sea, it can provide divers with services wherever they go.

Divers Down Under (DDU)

It is attached to a 70-room hotel and hostel lodge and provides a broad choice of entry-level PADI courses in many languages, divemaster internships, specialty courses, and technical diving experiences (INTD and PADI-Dsat).

Freedive Dahab

+20 165093752, e-mail: [email protected]

Lotta Ericson (former World Record holder) and Linda Paganelli founded the company (Italian Champion). Freedive Dahab is an Instructor Training Center, as well as an SSI and AIDA school, offering all levels of classes and private instruction. Freedive Dahab also has a freediving store where you may purchase or rent any freediving equipment you might require. Freedive Dahab also hosts National and World Record attempts, as well as competitions like as the Triple Depth competition.

H2O Divers Dahab

Professional, experienced, and qualified instructors with over ten years of diving expertise in Dahab. A welcoming group of fluent English, French, German, Dutch, and Arabic speakers providing a comprehensive variety of PADI courses. Masbat Bay, Dahab’s major bay, is right in the middle of the resort. Lighthouse Reef, Mashraba, and Bannerfish Bay are all just outside their door. Bannerfish Bay’s easy access is just outside their door, while Lighthouse and Mashraba are only a two-minute walk away.

iDive Dahab

+20 1118444097.

The diving facility of the Jowhara Hotel is well constructed. In addition to daily dive excursions, iDive provides a full variety of PADI, SSI, and CMAS courses. Safaris and overnight vacations are also available. A Marine Research center is part of the iDive center and provides an excellent chance to learn more about marine sciences. iDive and its Open Ocean Center are launching a number of initiatives to conserve the water. They routinely host overseas institutions on field excursions or as part of research initiatives.

Mirage Divers – Diving center

+20 693641476, fax: +20 693641476, e-mail: [email protected]

Owned and operated by extremely skilled Bedouins, they always try their utmost to provide genuine social diving vacations that include both safety and pleasure while experiencing a completely different culture in a genuinely unique setting. Their groups are usually small, and each diver receives individualized care.

Nesima Diving Center

+20 69 3640320.

The French-run diving facility is often regarded as the finest in town. They do demand a premium in terms of pricing, with two dives costing €47 (plus €20/day for gear rental). There are package savings available. A 5-day PADI Open Water course costs €302 in this location.

Poseidon Divers

Learn technical diving or undertake recreational dives or courses in a safe and professional manner. It is the only PADI Career Development Center in town, as well as a PSA and TDI Instructor facility (the only one in Egypt), so there will be no lack of divers if you do your PADI DiveMaster or Instructor course here, which is a clear benefit for the quality of your course.

Red Sea Relax PADI 5 Star National Geographic Instructor Development Resort

+20 69 3641 308.

A British-run diving business with an excellent beachside site in downtown Dahab, meters from the teeming reefs but yet close to the city and contemporary facilities. On-site lodging is provided in the form of suite rooms or a bed in the dormitory complex, which is completely free for divers. PADI diving courses vary from beginner to professional Open Water Instructor, and daily diving to any of the 20 local reefs is available for those who are already certified. Excursions via boat and Camel Dive Safaris are also available.

Reef 2000 Diving Center

PADI 5* Gold Palm Resort and IANTD technological facilities by Bedouin Moon Hotel. It provides a broad variety of diving lessons, from beginning to technical.

Sea Dancer Dive Center

Small, professionally operated establishment on the seafront. Provides a complete variety of courses as well as guided dives. The staff is informed, experienced, eager, and courteous, and the equipment is of high quality and well-maintained.

Sea Pioneer Dive Club

Dive Centre is located immediately across the street from Dahab’s popular Lighthouse diving location. For restricted and open water dives, we are less than a minute’s walk from the shore. In addition to introductory dives, we offer PADI courses in Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, Dive Master, and many more specialties. On request, we may also arrange you lodging and airport transportation.

World of freediving

World of Freediving International AIDA freediving School is a freediving school in Dahab, South Sinai, Egypt. They provide a diverse choice of freediving classes and training opportunities for divers of all skill levels, including AIDA Instructor Courses. All of the courses are AIDA courses, and all of the teachers are AIDA certified.

Zen Sea

Fun dives, PADI courses, and yoga diving are all available.

Rock climbing

Desert Divers have pioneered the development of rock climbing in Sinai. They can arrange for Wadi Gnai licenses, equipment rental, transportation, guides, and anything else you may want. They just released the Sinai Rock Climbing Guide, which includes topos and route descriptions. Their instructors are eager to share/offer information to experienced climbers who can’self-guide,’ or they can assist you improve your climbing skills with basic and advanced technique courses.

St. Catherine also offers some of the best trad climbing and bouldering in the world. Base yourself in the hamlet at Fox Camp or Sheikh Mousa Bedouin Camp for convenient access to more than 60 trails (5 minutes to 2 hours). The pitches are all lengthy multipitch (7+ pitch), however there is a large variety of grades. If you’re in a group, it’s a lot of fun to ride a camel far into the desert, where you’ll discover unclimbed lines practically everywhere you look! No bolting is permitted at St Catherine, and please respect the sacred mountains of Mt Sinai and St Katherine by taking the ancient pilgrimage trails rather than climbing.

Sandboarding

Sandboarding is supposed to have begun in Egypt during the Pharaohs’ reign, when they slid down dunes on pieces of wood. However, it has only just begun to take center stage as one of the most thrilling outdoor adventure sports. Today, the sport has developed in many nations with picturesque surroundings, such as Namibia, Peru in Latin America, Australia, the Western United States, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, with an ever-increasing global following.

Yoga, Reiki, Chi Gong and more

Yoga, whether ashtanga, hatha, or kundalini, is becoming more popular in Dahab. Yoga on adjacent Mount Sinai is a popular attraction, as are full-moon retreats into the surrounding wadis (desert), which take advantage of the Sinai desert’s calm and openness. People are flocking to Dahab for vacations, and yoga for Christmas has quickly become a popular activity.

Throughout the year, the El Salam Camp and Yoga Shala offers daily lessons as well as regular retreats during peak season. Currently, classes are accessible in both English and Russian.

The key to dining inexpensively in Dahab is to avoid beachside eateries and instead go inland, along and beyond the pedestrian zone, where comparable meals are often on sale for half the price of those on the seaside.

• Budget places. You may dine for extremely inexpensive costs (4-24LE) on the side streets, such as falafel, koshari, and chicken at “King Chicken,” albeit King Chicken has different pricing for Egyptians and foreigners. Fish lunches cost 30LE at the Fish Market – the rates displayed for fish are per kilo (not per fish); bargain for a better deal. On the main road (Peace Road), there is a falafel, foul, etc., stand that charges 2LE each sandwich. Good koshary may be found at the Koshary shop on Peace Road. A fish supper prepared for you in Assalah (the Egyptian side) would normally cost between 15LE and 25LE. At the outset, agree on a fee.
• Ali Baba Restaurant. Ali Baba Restaurant is a high-end establishment that serves local seafood, grill, and both local and foreign foods. It has cleanliness certifications and is continually reinventing itself.
• The Kitchen Restaurant, +20 195959764, Masbat Bay (between the bridge and the huge store). 12:00-24:00. In a delicate dining setting, The Kitchen Restaurant serves genuine and contemporary Thai, Chinese, Indian, and Sushi cuisine. The restaurant is approved for international food and health safety and has a great Tripadvisor rating. Also available for take-out and delivery.”
• Blue Beach Restaurant. Located on the beach front at the Blue Beach Hotel, this restaurant offers pleasant dining with a broad and intriguing cuisine. The cuisine is delicious, and the steaks, in particular, are well-known in Dahab. The restaurant is located indoors and offers both comfortable shelter in the winter and a pleasant setting in the summer. Can also accommodate big gatherings.
• Buddha Restaurant and Cafe,  +20 108638537. This restaurant in the Lighthouse neighborhood is currently the spot to dine in Dahab for the greatest quality steak and fresh seafood. This is a really casual and welcoming facility, with clean facilities and sun loungers available throughout the day. Romantic near the Red Sea, but also suitable for parties and weddings.
• Dai Pescatori,  +20 127972361. Egyptians own and run the business. Good Italian cuisine, particularly the mixed appetizers and semi-fredo dessert, at Sheikh Salem House at the extreme northern end of the promenade.
• Eel Garden. At the northern end of the promenade, sitting on nice bedouin cushions, friendly staff, good food European and Egyptian you won’t find everywhere, e.g. mashi, couscous, sahlab. Weekly BBQ. Sunbeds and private beach.
• El Dorado. With its own beach, it is also located at the northern end of the promenade. Owned by Italians, who offer delicious Italian cuisine, including killer pizzas! Locals are very fond of it. If you have a specific request, be cautious when collecting your check, since the owner of the establishment may have his own views about how much to charge.
• Friends Restaurant. One of a number of seaside restaurants that provide the same Arabic cuisine at the same pricing.
• Jumas Wadi Bidar Bedouin Dinner Traditional Bedouin supper cooked over an open fire in the desert. Juma, a Bedouin from the Muziena tribe, prepares delicious cuisine on his wadi near Dahab, with views of the town and Saudi Arabia. Prices for a sumptuous feast, including transportation, start at 80 EGP per person. Bookings may be made via Desert Divers, Sheikh Salem House, or Blue Beach. There is also the option of going to supper on a camel, in a vehicle, on a horse, on a trek (30 minutes from Dahab town center), or even on a quad bike!
• The Lazy Camel Cafe Assalah Beach is located at the end of the beach walk, just north of the Eel Garden Dive Site. Serves a delicious blend of Bedouin/Middle Eastern/European cuisine, such as home-made beef burgers, Bedouin wrap sandwiches, and daily chef specials. Customers get access to free wireless internet and enjoy one of the best views in Dahab.
• Leila’s Bakery. Delicious breads, sandwiches, salads, and cakes from a German bakery.
• Lobster Seafood Restaurant. A few minutes beyond “King Chicken,” serves free soup, bread, and salad with a main dish, and may even include a complementary cup of tea.
• Nemo Restaurant. On the boulevard, there’s a restaurant. It serves good meals and even has some German’specialties’ on its menu. Appetizers, sweets, and sheshas are all complimentary!!
• Nirvana. Genuine Indian cuisine with a distinct taste. Excellent curries, appetizers, vegetarian options, and Indian tea (Chai). The portions are enormous; you probably don’t need a beginning. Proper Indian cuisine! Strongly recommended!
• Quickly Restaurant. Mashraba Street. Food from throughout the world. Cheap cuisine, but significantly larger amounts and far tastier than the tourist restaurants along the seaside. Upstairs, there’s a laid-back lounge with decent music. Wireless internet is provided at no cost. Local divers and travelers love it here.
• Rush. Located between the bridge and Tota, up a short lane. This restaurant provides delicious meals in a palmtree garden with a tiny swimming pool; the style is imaginative “fusion.” There is also a bar with both domestic and foreign alcohol. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Every Friday night, there is a DJ-led party.
• Same Same but different, +20 106466863, e-mail:[email protected] Good meal; the strawberry shake is a must-try; it takes you back to your youth. The service was wonderful, and the personnel was not scary or aggressive in the least. seafood that is fresh Catch of the day, excellent steak and B.B.Q lamb kebab special Vegetarian menu free starter with a main dish… you may bring your own Alcohol Drinks… free wifi
• Star Of Dahab. Mashraba’s seaside district. A great spot to eat fresh fish.
• Three Fishes. The southernmost point of the promenade. Paola, an Italian, runs a good Italian restaurant.
• El Fanar, El Masbat, South Sinai, Egypt,  +20 122525853. Delicious meal in a Bedouin setting. Excellent service from a kind personnel. Order the chicken kebab or kofte from the menu, and the appetizer (pita and dips), watermelon, and tea are complimentary. Drinks are also reasonably priced.

On the beach, there are various pubs. Additionally, special stores called Drinkies sell beer, wine, and liquor. One is at Azzahla’s market square, while the other is on Mashraba’s little road beside the Sea Bride seafood restaurant.

Certain Egyptian alcohol companies use the names and labeling of more well-known liquors from other countries. Restaurants often promote Stella beer, which is not the same thing as Stella Artois, as well as Sakkara, Luxor, and Heineken.

The typical Egyptian suspects make excellent purchases: water pipes, carpets, oriental lamps, shirts of various lengths with embroidered, backgammon games, and silver jewelry, among others. Prices are set for visitors, therefore negotiating is necessary; pay no more than 50%-60% of the first amount quoted; anything more is a rip-off. If you are unsure of the price, go to the next store, since they all sell similar items, and begin haggling again.

Keep an eye out for Bedouin Handicrafts; some very magnificent things are available. Hand embroidered and produced by Bedouin women in Dahab, St Catherines, and El Arish. Sheikh Salem House, like many other Bedouin restaurants in Dahab, provides a good assortment of products.

If your stay is extended, whether intentionally or unintentionally, your buying habits will gravitate toward the Ghazala Market, which has everything you need to upgrade your on-the-road equipment from functional to handy. For authentic local meals and much cheaper fruit and vegetables, visit the Assalah retail neighborhood (5 min taxi, or walk to Eel Garden then head into town).

It is almost hard to get rolling tobacco in Dahab, so plan accordingly if you are not a fan of factory-made cigarettes.

Dahab Community Market is a weekly event open to the public that takes place every Friday afternoon at Sheikh Salem House in Dahab’s Eel Garden Area. The market now begins at 3 p.m. and ends between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Every week, there are new merchants, as well as regulars, selling handcrafted Bedouin and Egyptian crafts, jewelry, clothing, secondhand bargains, cuisines from throughout the globe, including home-cooked Egyptian fare, delectable pastries and sweets.

• Dahab Partys, various locations host different party nights every week. Wednesdays at the Sphinx Pool Bar feature House and Dance Music, while Fridays at RUSH Village Bar feature House and Dancey rhythms.
• (kind of) Discothèques – Rush and The Tree. However, as soon as more than 15-20 people enter, the doorman announces, “It’s a party tonight,” and costs you 50-100 LE for admission… In such instance, just disregard the location.
• Churchill’s Sports Bar and Grill,   +20 69 3641 309. Relaxation at the Red Sea (on the promenade 50m down from Lighthouse). A lively institution with a decent mix of tourist and local customers. At relatively low costs, it serves draught Heineken on tap as well as British-inspired food. Premier League football and other important sporting events are displayed on the big screen terrace and below in the air conditioned bar.
• Elzar Bar, is located on the seaside, adjacent to the remnants of the ancient port.
• The Furry cup, at the Blue Beach Hotel, where local Westerners go to listen to U2, Coldplay, and other artists. The only location in Dahab where you may obtain genuine Western hard liquor brands rather than imitations.
• Funny Mummy. If you simply want to relax and drink some of Egypt’s superb fruit juices, the giant colorful drapes and carpet chairs provide a lovely ambience (albeit not the cheapest option in town). However, avoid the menu since it tends to over-sell and under-deliver.
• Same Same,   +20 106466863. but different good place for drink &shisha
• Beirut Nights on Peace Road serves good Turkish coffee for 3LE and tea for 1.5LE.

Dahab is one of Egypt’s most multi-cultural towns, integrating different religious traditions in a peaceful way; as a consequence, the list of Dahab Holidays contains several prominent African festivals as well as some unique, indigenous festivals. Few people realize that, in addition to the original Bedouin culture, Dahab is home to a tiny number of Christians. Furthermore, since the historical significance of certain of the festivals is not widely recognized, they are celebrated by a minority, i.e. tiny tribes.

Wafaa Al Nil, which takes place in September, is also known as the ‘Festival of the Nile.’ This event, which is one of the oldest in Egypt, is celebrated in a variety of ways around the country. It is commemorated in Dahab with a focus on social connection via different activities. During this time, visitors may engage in night-long poetry sessions or lectures. This is a simple approach to comprehend the growth of Egyptian civilization. Another event with a similar concept, the Leylet en Nuktah, is held in the second week of June. This holiday, like many others, has historical importance and has been celebrated since the time of the pharaohs. Each year, the precise date for the Leylet is computed using the Coptic calendar, a traditional lunar calendar.

With approximately 90% of its inhabitants adhering to a strict interpretation of Islam, Ramadan is undoubtedly the most important of Dahab’s festivities. This festival commemorates a key milestone in the history of Islam: the revelation of the Holy Quran to Prophet Mohammed. This event lasts almost a month, with day-long fasting followed by nighttime feasting on sweet treats. Local gatherings known as ‘Iftars’ are held throughout Dahab, creating an unrivaled bustle in the local marketplaces.

This celebration attempts to bring people of different religions together. The festival of Sham al-Naseem is more of a picnic-style celebration of the arrival of spring. The holiday is observed in the later part of March with relatives going on spontaneous picnics and inviting distant family members. Kidney beans and dried fish are popular local foods around this time.

This is one of Dahab’s lesser-known events. The Orthodox Church is the faith of Egypt’s Christian minority. Christmas is celebrated on January 7th, rather than December 25th, in this country. This version of Christmas also involves fasting for extended periods of time due to certain unique rituals that are exclusive to North African towns such as Dahab. The occasion does not elicit large-scale festivities, but visitors may witness the traditional Christmas trees and excitement at the local marketplaces.

Women tourists are safe in Dahab, however please be cautious.

As a deference to local traditions, even if you will notice a lot of females wearing short skirts and tight t-shirts, please remember that Egypt is a conservative nation and dress accordingly in the city. A bikini is quite acceptable on the beach.

Flirting and simply chit-chat with local males is likely to be perceived quite differently than in the west. Take precautions. Be kind, but don’t invite more people than you need.

Snorkeling along/past the reef may be quite hazardous when it is very windy: powerful underwater currents form, and it is extremely difficult to return to the shallow reef. Always check with a neighboring diving facility to see whether it is safe to snorkel; they will be pleased to assist.

Although drugs, notably marijuana, are accessible in Dahab, they are not legal. Before indulging, carefully consider if you want to face high penalties at best and long jail sentences at worst in Egypt’s infamously filthy prisons.