Shopping In Dahab

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

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.