South Sinai · Egypt
Where is Dahab, Egypt?
Dahab (دهب) is on the Gulf of Aqaba coast of South Sinai, north of Sharm El Sheikh. It is 540 km by road from Cairo (about 7 h 45 min by car).
At a glance
Where exactly is Dahab?
Dahab is on the Gulf of Aqaba coast of South Sinai, north of Sharm El Sheikh, in the South Sinai Governorate (Sinai), at 28.5091°N, 34.5136°E. By road it is 540 km from Cairo (about 7 h 45 min); in a straight line the distance is 360 km. Because Sinai lies east of the Suez Canal, Dahab is geographically in Asia, although Egypt is an African country.
Dahab is a laid-back former Bedouin fishing village famous for the Blue Hole and freediving, for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and for trips into the Sinai mountains.
How far is Dahab from other cities?
Road distances and realistic drive times for a private car, the straight-line distance, and the quickest way to travel from Dahab.
Hurghada is only 155 km away in a straight line, but the Gulf of Suez lies in between: by road it is 780 km (about 11 h 15 min) around the gulf. A direct flight takes about 55 min.
| To | By road | Drive | Straight line | Direct flight | Best way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharm El Sheikh | 92 km | 1 h 20 min | 68 km | — | By road |
| Saint Catherine | 125 km | 1 h 40 min | 54 km | — | By road |
| Cairo | 540 km | 7 h 45 min | 360 km | 1 h 5 min | Direct flight |
| Giza | 545 km | 7 h 45 min | 360 km | 1 h 5 min | Direct flight |
| Alexandria | 755 km | 10 h 15 min | 535 km | 1 h 25 min | Direct flight |
| El Gouna | 760 km | 11 h | 150 km | 55 min | Direct flight |
| Hurghada | 780 km | 11 h 15 min | 155 km | 55 min | Direct flight |
| Sahl Hasheesh | 805 km | 11 h 30 min | 170 km | 55 min | Direct flight |
| Makadi Bay | 820 km | 11 h 45 min | 180 km | 55 min | Direct flight |
| Soma Bay | 835 km | 12 h | 195 km | 55 min | Direct flight |
| Safaga | 840 km | 12 h | 205 km | 55 min | Direct flight |
| Luxor | 1,065 km | 14 h 45 min | 365 km | 1 h 15 min | Direct flight |
| Marsa Alam | 1,065 km | 14 h 45 min | 385 km | — | Fly via Cairo |
| Aswan | 1,275 km | 17 h 30 min | 515 km | — | Fly via Cairo |
| Abu Simbel | 1,540 km | 21 h 15 min | 745 km | — | Fly via Cairo |
Drive times are for a private car with one short stop; long-distance buses take roughly a third longer. Straight-line distances are measured between city centres. Road data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How to get to Dahab
By air
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) is 90 km from the centre, about 1 h 15 min by taxi or transfer. Direct flights from Cairo take about 1 h 5 min. Direct domestic flights also link it with Hurghada, Luxor and Alexandria. Direct international flights, many of them seasonal charters, arrive from Europe and the Middle East.
By road
From Cairo: 540 km, about 7 h 45 min by car, through the tunnel under the Suez Canal. Long-distance buses run daily from Cairo. Sinai roads have police checkpoints, so keep your passport with you.
Flights to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport from abroad
Typical non-stop flight times to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH), the nearest airport to Dahab. Where there is no direct service, most travellers connect in Cairo.
- Rome 3 h 45 min Direct
- Milan 4 h 5 min Direct
- Berlin 4 h 35 min Direct
- Moscow 4 h 50 min Direct
- Paris 4 h 50 min Direct
- London 5 h 20 min Direct
Via Cairo Athens, Istanbul, Vienna, Munich, Zurich, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Madrid and Stockholm
- Amman 1 h 15 min Direct
- Dubai 3 h 55 min Direct
Via Cairo Beirut, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuwait City, Bahrain, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Muscat
Via Cairo Mumbai, New York (JFK), Toronto, Beijing, Chicago, Seoul, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Sydney
Direct services to resort airports are often seasonal, and schedules change; check with the airline before booking.
Places near Dahab
Top tours & excursions in Dahab
Hand-picked, best-selling experiences in Dahab, with hotel pickup, instant confirmation and free cancellation.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Dahab located?
Dahab is on the Gulf of Aqaba coast of South Sinai, north of Sharm El Sheikh, in the South Sinai Governorate of Egypt (Sinai), at 28.5091°N, 34.5136°E.
Is Dahab in Africa or Asia?
Dahab is in Asia. It lies on the Sinai Peninsula, the part of Egypt east of the Suez Canal, which is the usual boundary between Africa and Asia.
What is the nearest airport to Dahab?
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH), 90 km from the centre of Dahab, about 1 h 15 min by car.
How far is Dahab from Cairo?
Dahab is 540 km from Cairo by road, about 7 h 45 min by car, or 360 km in a straight line. A direct flight takes about 1 h 5 min.
How do you get from Dahab to Hurghada?
The quickest way is a direct flight, about 55 min, which runs a few times a week. By road it is 780 km around the Gulf of Suez, about 11 h 15 min.
What is Dahab famous for?
Dahab is a laid-back former Bedouin fishing village famous for the Blue Hole and freediving, for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and for trips into the Sinai mountains.