Travel Guide Dahab

Dahab, meaning "gold" in Arabic, was named for the color of its sand or, according to other sources, in reference to the passage of time, zahab meaning "past" in Arabic. Originally, Dahab was just a small fishing village on the edge of an oasis where a little agriculture was practiced. The Bedouin tradition of hospitality has endured to this day... During the Israeli occupation, this village became a favorite spot for young people. Young Israelis, who tended to be partygoers and penniless, had set their sights on the village center. It was here that a multitude of cheerful hotels gradually sprang up, where you could smoke marijuana on the beach until the early hours of the morning. Warning: even if everything looks cool, it is now strictly forbidden to bring in, sell or use drugs (soft or hard) in Egypt. Such an offence carries heavy penalties, so there's no point in tempting the devil. It has to be said that Dahab's hippy days are over, and those who passed through here some fifteen years ago will no longer recognize the place. The corniche is paved and equipped with streetlamps, camels and horses can no longer use it, the camps have given way to more stylish hotels, and the restaurants are now clean, but more expensive.Dahab today. Security constraints combined with the desire to develop a more lucrative tourism industry have changed the special historical atmosphere of this place. But the atmosphere is still very pleasant. One very positive point is that there is no harassment from vendors, for example. Today, Dahab is a successful melting pot: Bedouins, of course, but also Egyptians from Cairo, Europeans, Israelis and people of all nationalities roam the streets and alleys of this unique resort. There's an appreciable sense of freedom here compared to the rest of Egypt, and it remains much more authentic and welcoming than Sharm el-Sheikh. Hotels and restaurants have become much cleaner and more comfortable. Here, the Red Sea is open to all. The restaurants lining the beach are made up of simple carpets and low tables, so no one is deprived of the view of the bay. Secondly, you can swim wherever you like, which is unfortunately not often the case in Red Sea resorts. Rent flippers, mask and snorkel and head out into the sea right up to the coral reef (if you don't have flippers, at least wear plastic sandals). If you're a hard-core diver, there are several diving clubs in town offering dives that are just as interesting as those from Sharm el-Sheikh.Last but not least, Dahab offers a magnificent spectacle, as is the case all along this coast, where the mountains fall directly into the sea. And even if the town center is swamped with tourists with a uniform international look, the city has not lost its soul - quite the contrary: you can feel a unique atmosphere here, turned towards the Red Sea and the world!