Dahab attracts 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.
However, in recent years, the lagoon inside the sand spit has been overtaken by kitesurfers, with two Russian-owned schools opening right on the beach.
SCUBA diving, free-diving and snorkelling are also popular activities with many reefs immediately adjacent to waterfront hotels.
The nearby Blue Hole (nicknamed "The World's Most Dangerous Diving Site") and Canyon are internationally famous dive spots.
The increasing destruction of coral from reckless divers/dive centres diving is a pressing issue that is causing some worry, sparking the need to regulate dive centres more thoroughly.

Land-based activities include rock climbing, camel riding, horse riding, cycling, mountain biking trips, jeep and quad bike trips.
Mount Sinai is a two-hours drive, with Saint Catherine's Monastery being a popular tourist destination.

Historically, most visitors to Dahab have been backpackers travelling independently and staying in hostels, motels or guesthouses in the Masbat 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 surfing, windsurfing, diving, kite surfing, sailing, 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.

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, and 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, and anyone lucky enough to witness it will remember it for a long time.

According to the Bedouins of the area, however the name "Dahab" has a different origin.
When the Bedouin people came there they called it "Waqaat Thahaab" (وقت ذهب) which translates literally as "Time Goes".
This name derived from the fact that when you were there, you could easily lose track of time as the days would begin to run together.
The name was then shortened to "Thahaab" (ذهب), but was misunderstood by travelers who thought they were saying Dahab.

Much of the coral in the reefs just offshore is slowly disappearing, due to inexperienced divers being taken out in large numbers.
Another considerable problem is that in Masbat local restaurants are dumping sand and rock into the sea to extend the shoreline, again causing disruption to local coral reefs.

Local Bedouin children, sometimes encouraged by their families, come to beach cafes and restaurants to sell items such as woven bracelets to tourists.

The influx of female tourists on the beach, who typically dress in a more revealing fashion, introduces a culture unfamiliar to the region.
Dahab attracts 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. However, in recent years, the lagoon inside the sand spit has been overtaken by kitesurfers, with two Russian-owned schools opening right on the beach. SCUBA diving, free-diving and snorkelling are also popular activities with many reefs immediately adjacent to waterfront hotels. The nearby Blue Hole (nicknamed "The World's Most Dangerous Diving Site") and Canyon are internationally famous dive spots. The increasing destruction of coral from reckless divers/dive centres diving is a pressing issue that is causing some worry, sparking the need to regulate dive centres more thoroughly.
Land-based activities include rock climbing, camel riding, horse riding, cycling, mountain biking trips, jeep and quad bike trips. Mount Sinai is a two-hours drive, with Saint Catherine's Monastery being a popular tourist destination.
Historically, most visitors to Dahab have been backpackers travelling independently and staying in hostels, motels or guesthouses in the Masbat 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 surfing, windsurfing, diving, kite surfing, sailing, 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.
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, and 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, and anyone lucky enough to witness it will remember it for a long time.
According to the Bedouins of the area, however the name "Dahab" has a different origin. When the Bedouin people came there they called it "Waqaat Thahaab" (وقت ذهب) which translates literally as "Time Goes". This name derived from the fact that when you were there, you could easily lose track of time as the days would begin to run together. The name was then shortened to "Thahaab" (ذهب), but was misunderstood by travelers who thought they were saying Dahab.
Much of the coral in the reefs just offshore is slowly disappearing, due to inexperienced divers being taken out in large numbers. Another considerable problem is that in Masbat local restaurants are dumping sand and rock into the sea to extend the shoreline, again causing disruption to local coral reefs.
Local Bedouin children, sometimes encouraged by their families, come to beach cafes and restaurants to sell items such as woven bracelets to tourists.
The influx of female tourists on the beach, who typically dress in a more revealing fashion, introduces a culture unfamiliar to the region.
Dahab