Is a small town on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, approximately 80 km northeast of Sharm-El-Sheikh Dahab can be divided into three major parts. Masbat, which includes the Bedouin village of Asalah, is in the north. South of Masbat is Mashraba, which is more touristic and has considerably more hotels. In the southwest is Medina which includes the Laguna area, famous for its excellent shallow-water kite- and windsurfing.
This former Bedouin fishing village is now a popular tourist destination—especially for serious windsurfers, who’ll find some of the best conditions in the world off Dahab’s beaches. Long known as a laid-back town, Dahab is becoming more developed, yet retains a casual vibe. Finally, Dahab is also home to the Blue Hole, the world’s most dangerous and best dive site. Dahab is a place that makes every diver happy. Almost all dive sites are easily accessible by jeep.
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 color of the sands to the south of the town itself. Some locals attribute the name to the colour of the sky just after sunset.
One local story concerning the town’s name is that it stems from the floods that wash through the town every five or six years. Larger than average seasonal storms in the mountains cause a great rush of water to surge down to the sea, dragging with it great amounts of sand. During this time, the town is cut in two by the flood, the bay is stirred up and the sands turn it a golden yellow. This typically lasts a few days, and has caused damage and loss of life in the past as people were unaware of the sudden onset and the force the water moves at. Today, locals are ready when they see the clouds over the mountains.
Must do in Dahab
is a small town on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, approximately 80 km northeast of Sharm-El-Sheikh
