Travel to Dahab

Dahab, Arabic for gold, takes its name from the golden sands where the Sinai Desert slides into the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba. The Mizena Bedouin tribe settled this stretch of coast centuries ago, fishing and trading along routes that connected the interior mountains to the Red Sea. What began as their fishing village transformed in the 1970s when backpackers discovered the shore diving and low-cost living, creating a community of ocean lovers who never left. Unlike resort-built Sharm El Sheikh 80 kilometers to the south, Dahab grew organically around Bedouin hospitality, and that character has persisted even as professional dive centers and wind sport schools arrived.

The town stretches along the southeastern Sinai Peninsula coast in three distinct sections: Masbat, home to the original Assalah Bedouin village where traditional cafes still line the waterfront promenade and local families maintain their fishing traditions; Mashraba, the tourist-friendly center with dive shops, restaurants, and accommodation ranging from backpacker camps to boutique hotels; and the Lagoon area 4 kilometers south, a 2.5-kilometer sheltered bay that has become one of the Middle East’s top kitesurfing destinations with professional centers including Harry Nass and ION Club. Goats still roam the streets between Masbat’s cafes, and the pace of life moves with the tides rather than tourist schedules.