Nuweiba

Nuweiba, which means "bubbling springs" in Arabic, is a 7-km long town stretched along the Aqaba coast of the Sinai Red Sea about 87 km from Dahab. Developed from a barren isolated place with no infrastructure into a promising and attractive tourist destination, Nuweiba has just recently been discovered by tourist investors who have established hotels along the coastline south and north of Nuweiba, connecting it with Taba in the north and Dahab in the south.

Due to the problems in Israel, tourism to the area is now down. This is not because of any danger within the area. Rather it is due to the fact that Israelis once made up a significant segment of the tourist population to the area and are no longer traveling as much because of their own internal conflict. This really ends up being a bonanza for other travelers to the area who are seeking a laid back, non-congested beach or scuba diving vacation. Vacation specials abound, and the local tourism industry is working hard to promote the area to new markets.

Nuweiba can be divided into three main sections and runs for some ways along the beach. The three areas consist of the port of Noweiba which has become fairly busy these days, Noweiba City which has a bazaar and tourist shops, and Tarabin which is the real party area of the area.

Nuweiba Tarabin, the northern part, consists of a thick grove of palms, a shallow bay and the ruins of a Turkish fort. The well inside the ruins has served the Bedouins as a fresh water source for centuries. In the early 80’s, the process of settling started, when families of the Tarabin tribe who occupy the area north of Nuweiba, permanently moved to live in their summer location. At this time the Bedouins set up the first simple accommodations made of scrap wood and metal, the only material available. With an increase in tourism and an improving infrastructure, soon many campsites and small hotels sprouted like mushrooms along the bay.

Tarabin is known for its lively oriental atmosphere. Restaurant by restaurant and bazaar next to bazaar gives you the impression of a colorful oriental market place. Along the beach you find lively outdoor restaurants in Bedouin style furnished with carpets and cushions that invite you to lay back and relax and let the time pass by.

The town itself is built around the former Moshav Neviot, which was established during the Israeli occupation in 1971. Its significance lies in marking the tribal boundary between the Tarabin tribe in the north and the Muzeina tribe in the south.

The Dunes are the extension and connection between Nuweiba Town and Nuweiba Muzeina (Nuweiba Port). Along the shore exist a conglomerate of many camps and small-scale hotels on the beautiful sandy beaches with spectacular coral reefs just in front of them. The Dunes are divided between "Duna" and "small Duna". Most of the campsites and hotels are built in the southern "small Duna", while "Duna" remains a romantic virgin place with simple accommodations of thatched beach bungalows and some small restaurants with brilliant views.

Nuweiba Port, also known as Nuweiba Muzeina, is the industrial area. With the construction of the port in 1985 trade business between Egypt and the Arab countries on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba increased. A highway was built through the mountains connecting mainland Egypt with the Sinai Peninsula to accommodate this trade.

Egyptians from all over the country came to live in Nuweiba as work flourished. Homes and schools were built, shops and business centers opened and the first hotels were established.
Originally Nuweiba port was the summer location for the Muzeina tribe. It was a sparsely inhabited oasis, which came only into life in the late summer, when the Muzeina flocked to the palm groves to pick dates. The thriving trade encouraged the Muzeina clan to settle. Today, they are running their own businesses by renting out their places as shops or other facilities to the Egyptian newcomers.

Nuweiba is famous for its beautiful beaches covered by Palm trees. All along the Sinai cost you will find good scuba diving, and Noweiba is no exception. Besides the diving, you will also find camel and jeep adventurers. The Colored Canyon is nearby, and a little beyond is the oasis of Ain el-Furtaga. Noweiba also has a daily ferry service to the Jordanian port of Aqaba.