Dahab
Dahab | |
|---|---|
| Evening in Dahab on the Gulf of Aqaba. Evening in Dahab on the Gulf of Aqaba. | |
| Country |  Egypt |
| Governorate | Red Sea Governorate |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | +3 |
Dahab (دهب) is a small town situated on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. 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 destinations. Following the Six Day War, the town was occupied by Israel and known in Hebrew as Di-Zahav, a place mentioned in the Exodus from Egypt. The Sinai Peninsula was restored to Egyptian rule in 1982. The arrival of international hotel chains and the establishment of other ancillary facilities has now made this a popular destination with tourists. The nearest international airport is located at Sharm el-Sheikh.
Tourism
Dahab enjoys 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 formidable conditions for keen windsurfers. SCUBA diving and snorkelling are also popular activities with many reefs immediately adjacent to waterfront hotels. The nearby Blue Hole and Canyon are internationally famous dive spots. Land based activities include camel, horse, jeep and quad bike trips. Mount Sinai is a two hours drive, with Saint Catherine's Monastery being a popular tourist destination.
thumb|left|Snow in April in spring Historically, most visitors to Dahab have been backpackers travelling independently and staying in hostels in the Masbet area. In recent years, development of hotels in the Medina area has facilitated the arrival of a wider range of tourists, many of whom visit Dahab specifically to partake in the windsurfing, diving and other activities.
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.
See also
External links
- " all of Informations about Dahab 4 Free Community
- "I Love Dahab" Community
- Dahab Webcam and Local Weatherstation
- More Dahab Information and Pictures
- Dahabs bedouin history and culture
- Dahab Live Webcam
- Dahab Map
- Community Site with Job Market
- Photo Gallery
- Underwater gallery
- Photos of Dahab, 1979
28°29′35″N 34°30′17″E / 28.49306°N 34.50472°E
