Transportation
- Best Beach Nearby
- Blue Hole (north) or Lagoona Beach (south) for sandy shores.
- Top Regional Airline
- EgyptAir via Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH).
- Top International Airline
- Turkish Airlines or EasyJet (flying into Sharm El Sheikh International, 1 hour away).
- Highway Access
- Dahab-Sharm Road and Dahab-Nuweiba Road.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- GoBus Station (Mashraba) for buses to Cairo and Luxor (approx. 450-800 EGP).
- Public Transport Passes
- None. Bargain per ride with local pickup drivers.
- Regional Travel
- East Delta Bus or GoBus for long-distance; Private taxi to Sharm El Sheikh (approx. 800-1,200 EGP).
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Careem. Use local white blue pickup trucks (approx. 20-50 EGP within town).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Dahab Bike (Lighthouse); Scooters approx. 400 EGP/day or 5,000 EGP/month.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Dahab Specialized Hospital; For emergencies, Sharm International Hospital (1 hr drive).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Blue Beach Club Yoga; Coral Coast Hotel Yoga classes (approx. 250 EGP per session).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Dahab Gym (Assala) - Basic equipment, approx. 100 EGP per entry.
- Laundry Services
- Local 'Lavanderia' shops in Assala. Approx. 100 EGP for a full load washed and folded.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- No major apps. Order via WhatsApp directly with restaurants like King Chicken or Yum Yum.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Grilled Chicken and Kofta at King Chicken; Falafel sandwiches at Yum Yum (approx. 30 EGP).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Vegan Lab (Mashraba); Churchill’s (Lighthouse) for veggie burgers.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Ralph’s German Bakery (Apple Strudel); Ice Bubble (for artisanal gelato).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Assala Square Local Market for fresh produce and bulk spices.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.eg (deliveries take 3-5 days to Dahab).
- Grocery Delivery
- Rabbit (limited) or local supermarkets via WhatsApp (e.g., Ghazala Supermarket).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lighthouse waterfront. Best bars: Churchill’s, Yalla Bar, and Blue Beach Bar.
- Local Brewery
- Sakara or Stella (brewed by Al Ahram Beverages). Available at Drinkies bottled liquor store.
- Wine Bars
- Tota Bar (Boat-shaped bar in Lighthouse) - serves Egyptian Omar Khayyam wine.
- Street Food Stalls
- Assala Square for Hawawshi (meat-filled pita) and Koshary at Koshary El Tahrir.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ali Baba (Seafood); Namaste (Indian food in Lighthouse).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Blue Hole (world-famous diving spot); Eel Garden reef.
- Museums & Art Venues
- None in town. Best art is found at the Bedouin handcraft markets.
- Historical Sites
- St. Catherine’s Monastery (2 hours away); Nabatean Port Ruins in Mashraba.
- Religious Sites
- Al-Mala'a Mosque in Assala.
- Annual Events
- Dahab Bedouin Festival (sporadic dates); Freediving World Cup.
- Cultural Districts
- The Bedouin village of Assala.
- Theater Venues
- None. Outdoor film screenings occur occasionally at Jasmine Garden.
- Local Markets
- Dahab Friday Market at Sheikh Salem House.
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic music at Coral Coast; Jam sessions at various camps in Lighthouse.
- Street Art
- Murals along the Lighthouse boardwalk depicting marine life.
- Cooking Classes
- Bedouin cooking experiences arranged through local guides in the Wadi.
- Art Galleries
- Dahab Art (small local gallery near the bridge).
- Historic Buildings
- Traditional Bedouin stone houses in the older parts of Assala.
- Local Heritage
- Bedouin hospitality culture, Sinai embroidery, and herbal medicine.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wadi Gnai (rock climbing); Three Pools (snorkeling and hiking).
- National Parks Nearby
- Ras Abu Galum Protectorate (accessible by boat or camel from Blue Hole).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Waterfront Promenade (pedestrian only from Mashraba to Lighthouse).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The 'Dahab Viewpoint' hill overlooking the bay near the Lagoona entrance.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Dahab lagoons during migration season (Spring/Autumn).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Lagooona Beach and various Bedouin desert camps in Wadi Towaylat.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex Dahab Office; DHL (near the bridge).
- Tech Repair Services
- Local mobile shops in Assala Square for basic phone/laptop fixes.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Some beach camps like Penguin Village have tables.
- Language Classes
- Dahab Arabic School (Egyptian Arabic and MSA lessons).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Small book exchange at Ralph’s German Bakery; Coworking spaces are the best study spots.
- Community Centers
- The Dahab Community Market/Event Space.
- Gaming Lounges
- Small PlayStation cafes located in the residential backstreets of Assala.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (illegal outside major hotels in Sharm El Sheikh).
Essentials
- City
- Dahab, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt
- Population
- Approximately 15,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 20-50 Mbps; Fiber is expanding in Lighthouse area. Use WE or Etisalat.
- Currency & Banking
- Egyptian Pound (EGP). 1 USD ≈ 48 EGP, 1 EUR ≈ 52 EGP (March 2026 rates).
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable. Use 18L refillable bottles (approx. 50 EGP) or filtration systems.
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F (European standard). Frequent short outages occur.
- SIM Card
- Orange or WE. Available at shops in Assala or Mashraba. 20GB for approx. 300 EGP.
- Banking for Expats
- CIB (Commercial International Bank) or HSBC. Revolut/Wise work for ATM withdrawals.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses, shared 'Camp' houses, and independent villas via Airbnb or local Facebook groups.
- Cashless Friendly
- Partially. Large hotels and dive shops take cards; cafes and markets are cash-only.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Dahab Property Management, or 'Dahab Rentals' on Facebook.
- Budget Accommodation
- Deep Blue Camp or Seven Heaven Hotel (approx. 400-700 EGP per night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Lighthouse Area (close to reef, restaurants, and nightlife).
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Assala (quieter, residential, cheaper long-term villas, close to local markets).
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Mojo Coworking (Lighthouse) - 250 EGP/day; CoworkInn Dahab (Mashraba) - 300 EGP/day.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Everyday Cafe (Lighthouse) - fast WiFi and sea views; Ralph’s German Bakery (Assala) - great vibes.
- Networking Events
- Dahab Digital Nomads Facebook Group meetups; weekly 'Nomad Dinners' usually at Same Same But Different.
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday Market at Sheikh Salem House; various 'Ecstatic Dance' sessions in Blue Hole area.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 25,000 EGP per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 1,000,000 EGP / approx $21k USD).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 18,000 EGP per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 720,000 EGP / approx $15k USD).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 22,000 EGP per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,320,000 EGP / approx $27.5k USD).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 16,000 EGP per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 960,000 EGP / approx $20k USD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 20,000 EGP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,600,000 EGP / $33k USD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 15,000 EGP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,200,000 EGP / $25k USD).
- Corporate Tax
- 22.5% standard rate.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5% to 10% depending on the ownership percentage.
- Tax System
- Residential status based; residents taxed on worldwide income, but enforcement for nomads is low.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 27.5% for income over 1.2M EGP.
- VAT
- 14% standard rate.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, but recently introduced and primarily affects large corporations.
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on rental value, but often waived for primary residences under a certain value.
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2.5% real estate disposal tax paid by the seller.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet, but a 5-year multiple entry visa is available for $700 USD.