Dahab is a little town located in the Sinai Peninsula on the Red Sea in Egypt. You may have heard of the more popular Sharm el-Sheik, but Dahab is an up-and-coming destination that we’re hoping won’t change too much over the next few years as more and more travelers discover the town.
While looking for the best warm destination in or around Europe for the month of November, we stumbled across Dahab during our research. And boy, are we glad we decided to hop on a plane and try out this Egyptian seaside town.
Are you planning on discovering Dahab as a digital nomad? Well, you’re in luck. This is the most extensive guide on the internet on everything you need to know about Dahab in order to make the most of your trip.
Disclaimer: This blog post includes affiliate links, which means we receive a tiny commission – at no extra cost to you. Don’t worry; this doesn’t affect our recommendations whatsoever. It just helps us keep the lights on.
Our Personal Experience as Digital Nomads in Dahab
We spent a total of 3.5 weeks in Dahab in November of 2024. During our time here, we jumped straight into the fray and participated in as many events as we could, including pub quizzes, open mic nights, and even a cat raffle! Being a small town, we were really able to comb the entirety of Dahab and discover exactly what makes this seaside town so great, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Pros and Cons of Being a Digital Nomad in Dahab
For a well-rounded view of whether or not Dahab should be your next digital nomad destination, let’s consider the pros and cons of choosing to stay in this laid-back and hippie town.
Pros
There’s a reason Dahab is becoming more popular year after year. Here is what makes Dahab so great!
It’s Affordable
Compared to many of the other popular digital nomad hotspots, Dahab is incredibly affordable. Here, you can find budget-friendly accommodation all across the town, cheap food, and even cheaper groceries. The activities are relatively affordable as well!
Plenty of Outdoor Activities
One thing’s for sure: If you’re in Dahab, you won’t be idle. There’s plenty to do in and around Dahab, including snorkeling, diving, hiking, camel treks, rock climbing, quad biking, windsurfing, and more. This town is a true hub for outdoor activities that’ll make you appreciate the gorgeous waters and stunning mountain backdrop.
Great Weather Basically All Year Round
One of the main reasons we decided to choose Dahab was the weather. November offered us pleasant air and water temperatures. But you could visit this town any time of the year, and you’ll be greeted with pleasantly warm temperatures. While the winters can be cooler, you’ll still experience warm daytime temperatures, especially when the sun is out.
Relaxed Lifestyle
Dahab famously has a slow-paced, friendly, and hippie vibe that attracts travelers and digital nomads from all over the globe. So, for those who are seeking a balanced work-life experience, this is a great opportunity to soak in this easy way of living. Since the town is so small and walkable, this adds to the relaxed lifestyle you’ll inevitably experience during your time here.
We liken Dahab to Tulum before it was truly “discovered”.
Cons
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows in Dahab. These are some cons to consider before making your decision.
It’s Pretty Small and Remote
The nearest major city is Sharm el-Sheikh, which is an hour away by car. Beyond that, you’ll need to take long bus rides or fly to other destinations in Europe.
In addition to being remote, the town itself is relatively small. While you will be able to find most things here, keep in mind that anything that needs to be imported can run out and tends to be very expensive. For example, we were not able to find flour or draught beer anywhere, as there were no shipments. And an Oral-B satin floss cost a whopping $5. We’ve never put a floss back on the shelf so fast!
Limited Healthcare
As you might expect, the medical facilities in Dahab are pretty basic, so if you were to require serious medical attention, you would need to get yourself to Cairo or another major city ASAP. This can be both time-consuming and expensive.
Internet Can Be Spotty
Dahab is a hub for digital nomads, so you’ll find plenty of cafes and restaurants that allow nomads to work. However, this doesn’t mean all of these coworking spaces and cafes will have good, reliable wifi. In fact, we often had to hotspot ourselves, especially for high-bandwidth work.
Sweltering Summers
The summers are not as hot here as it is in other parts of Egypt, thanks to the seaside breeze, but they can still be uncomfortably hot. This is especially the case if you book accommodation without proper AC, so make sure to filter that in your search for accommodation.
Where to Stay in Dahab as a Digital Nomad
Dahab is divided into a few different areas, but in our opinion, the areas you will want to focus on in terms of accommodation are:
- Assala (where we stayed, which we HIGHLY recommend) – A quieter neighborhood north of Eel Garden and the Lighthouse with plenty to do
- Lighthouse – This is the heart of the action
- Mashraba – A popular area for budget backpackers south of the Lighthouse
And here are some of the best accommodation options for your stay in Dahab:
- Rafiki Hostels – Best budget option
- Beach House (where we stayed) – Best mid-range option
- Skyrock Dahab – Best high-end option
Things to Do in Dahab
Despite being a small town in a rather isolated location, there is plenty to do in Dahab to keep you occupied for your entire stay, whether you’re staying for one week or several months, especially if you love water activities. Here are some of the best things to do in Dahab.
Snorkel or Dive at the Blue Hole
You can’t come all the way to Dahab and not snorkel or dive. The Red Sea is one of the best places in the world to snorkel and dive, so take advantage of this fact! We personally ended up buying a snorkel mask each, as we snorkeled as much as we could when we weren’t working. We would recommend doing the same.
As for diving, don’t worry if you’ve never tried it before. Dahab is one of the best places to learn to dive and get your Open Water Certificate. We HIGHLY recommend Octopus World as a dive center. The staff is lovely, and the equipment is well taken care of.
But the absolute BEST snorkel spot in all of Dahab is the Blue Hole, which you absolutely cannot miss! You cannot dive here unless you have an Advanced Certificate, but the snorkeling here is also insanely beautiful. We’ve snorkeled quite a bit around the world over the years, and we would say this is one of our favorite snorkel spots ever. The reef is beautiful, the fish lively, and the hole terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Psst! Another fun snorkel spot we went to recently is Cozumel. Check out our Cozumel travel guide here.
Climb Moses Mountain
Up for a hike? There are a few different hikes you can do in the desert, but the most iconic of them all is, of course, Sinai Mountain, also known as Moses Mountain. This mountain is religiously significant, as this is where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Along with this hike, you should visit St. Catherine’s Monastery, where you can visit Moses’s burning bush. The monastery itself is very beautiful and dates back to 330 AD.
The Moses Mountain hike is generally a sunrise hike, but this requires a midnight pick-up, meaning you will basically get zero sleep that whole day unless you are able to sleep during a bumpy three-hour transport to and from. For this reason, we STRONGLY recommend opting for the sunset hike instead. Plus, since the sunset hike is less popular, you will have fewer people to deal with as you take in the breathtaking scenery at the top.
Visit the Blue Lagoon
You cannot miss a trip to Blue Lagoon during your time in Dahab. The Blue Lagoon boasts crystal-clear water and is the perfect place to go swimming when the sun is out, as it is sheltered from the waves. This spot is famous for its kitesurfing. There were kitesurfers everywhere when we went!
You can either make it a day trip or spend the night here at one of the many camps dotted around the lagoon. All of the camps look similar and have similar facilities, but if you’d like something a bit more comfortable, we recommend booking Gabila.
How to Get to Blue Lagoon Without a Tour
Located in the Ras Abu Galum Reserve, Blue Lagoon can be a bit difficult to get to without a tour, but it is relatively easy to do if you know where to go and how to do it.
The first option is to make a trek out of it. To do this, take a taxi to Blue Hole (around 200 EGP), snorkel there, and then walk to Ras Abu Galum along the coast (an hour). And from Abu Galum, take another taxi to Blue Lagoon (around 200 EGP). If you’d like to forgo the walk, you can also take a boat to Ras Abu Galum.
Alternatively, you can simply take a boat straight from Dahab to Blue Lagoon, which is around 300 EGP per person. This can be a cheaper option if you don’t mind skipping out on Blue Hole, as you also won’t need to pay the National Park fee (500 EGP) if you go this route.
Go Stargazing
The stars here in the Sinai desert are something else. If you happen to be in Dahab during a new moon, you’ve got to head out into the desert to admire the stars. The two best spots to do this are Blue Lagoon and this campground. While we personally did not come to see the stars here, another option is this small canyon walk, which is within walking distance from Dahab town.
Take a Yoga Class
Dahab is a great place to do some yoga. There are a few different spots across the town that offer yoga classes, but we recommend checking out the classes at Nour Wellbeing. They offer the biggest variety of classes we’ve seen in the whole town, including mat pilates classes, but check with them beforehand to get an updated schedule.
There is no need to book beforehand. Simply show up around 15 minutes before class to pay and head upstairs to the rooftop to move your body.
Do a Camel Safari
A rite of passage for anyone traveling through the desert is riding a camel. If you haven’t had a chance to ride a camel in Egypt yet, we recommend booking a camel safari or tour to get your fill during your time in Dahab. It is a very fun experience, as you ride around some gorgeous landscapes on a surprisingly tall animal.
You’ll find a variety of camel tours advertised around Dahab, so pick one that best suits your interests. They can range from beach rides and mountain rides to multi-day trips and more.
When it comes to tours, DO NOT BOOK ONLINE. Book the tours in person so that you can haggle down the price, especially if you’re booking in a group. When enquiring, you can also ask about the treatment of the camels.
Go Cafe Hopping
As digital nomads, we absolutely LOVED cafe hopping our way around Dahab. There are many cafes to check out and work in, so we encourage you to do the same. Here are some of our favorites during our time here (not all of these are work-friendly, however!):
- 11:11 Avenue: Probably has the best coffee in all of Dahab; a good place to work on a laptop
- Treats: A smaller cafe with delicious desserts; a good place to work
- Shanti Bistro: A cute and affordable place to have coffee and breakfast
- Schoenemanns: German-style breakfast; a good place to work
- Ralph’s German Bakery (several locations): German-style breakfast and baked goods
- Tim’s Munch: American-style breakfast, but their Egyptian offerings are amazing too
Cost of Living in Dahab for Digital Nomads
So, how much should you realistically budget for during your time in Dahab. Since Egypt is currently dealing with some insane inflation, and locals jacking up prices to match it, we’ll cover how much you’ll need in USD rather than EGP. We’ll also go over exactly how much money we spent TO THE CENT during our 3.5 weeks in Dahab.
Accommodation
For a month in Dahab, you can expect to spend anywhere between $350 to $800 a month for a one- to two-bedroom apartment. Most of these homes come with basic kitchens so that you can cook your own meals at home if you get sick of eating out every now and then. We know we did! Make sure to book accommodation with AC and a washing machine if you want home comforts and don’t want to deal with figuring out laundry every time you run out of clothes.
To find digital nomad accommodation in Dahab, we’d recommend using Airbnb or checking out Facebook groups. You can get a much better deal on Facebook, as you won’t need to pay any Airbnb fees. If using this method to book accommodation, we urge you to be careful, as there may be scams. We recommend using Airbnb or booking a hotel or hostel for the first few nights in Dahab so you can suss out the accommodation in person beforehand if you find one on Facebook.
The Facebook groups we recommend checking out are:
For more accommodation options, check out our guide to the best Airbnb alternatives.
Food and Drinks
Besides accommodation, food will be the next biggest expense you’ll need to think about. Food is cheap in Dahab, especially if you want to cook at home every now and then. If you plan to eat out the entire time you’re in Dahab, we recommend budgeting around $350 to $500 for the month, and that’s being very generous and includes drinking alcohol. You could easily spend less if you eat at local restaurants.
But if you want to balance eating out with cooking your own food (let’s say half-half in this example), you’ll be spending a bit less, depending on what you buy at the supermarket. As a general rule, you could easily get by with a grocery budget of $70 to $120 for the entire month. Again, you could easily spend MUCH less, especially if you don’t eat meat. So, that, plus eating out half the time at $175 to $250, gives you a total monthly spend on food and drinks at $245 to $370 per month.
For example, an entire week’s worth of produce would never cost us more than $8, and that’s for two people! For the cheapest produce, you have to go to the Arishy Thursday Vegetable Market.
Transportation
Transportation is another area you’ll spend a bit of money during your time in Dahab. While in Dahab, you won’t be spending too much money, but if you want to take any day trips, you’ll need to budget for it. Plus, don’t forget to budget for your trip to and from the airport!
A car ride from the airport to Dahab (and vice versa) set us back $25, which is half that price if you share the ride with one other person. And as for taxi rides to Blue Hole, that generally cost $4. Keep in mind that most tours will include transportation. Altogether, you really won’t spend any more than $60 to $80 on transportation, and, again, that’s being VERY generous and assuming you don’t share the ride with anyone.
Activities
Now, you can’t travel to Dahab and not partake in its many activities. This is going to make up a relatively big part of your budget due to how much it costs to dive.
Most day trips will cost around $20 to $30. A single dive will cost anywhere between $25 and $35. An Open Water diving course will cost around $350 to $400. And an Advanced course will set you back $250 to $300. Keep in mind that you will generally get a better deal the more dives you book.
Depending on how much diving you want to do, and whether you need to pay for a course, we would recommend budgeting around $200 to as much as $700. If you’re not planning on diving at all, you could budget anywhere between $100 and $200.
Total
As you can see, how much budget highly depends on how you want to spend your time in Dahab. So, there is a bit of range when it comes to how much to budget. As a general rule, we would recommend budgeting on the higher end of the spectrum if you want to dive and need to do a course and budgeting on the lower end of the spectrum if you’re not interested in diving.
In total, on average, you could spend anywhere between $755 and $2,080 per month in Dahab. But if you’re on a shoestring budget, you could easily spend MUCH less in Dahab by doing fewer activities and cooking at home rather than eating out. You could also very easily cut down on your budget by traveling with at least one other person.
Keep in mind there are other small things you may want to pay for, such as a SIM card, which shouldn’t cost you more than $10. But more on this below in the SIM card section.
How Much We Spent in 3.5 Weeks in Dahab
Okay, so how much did we spend as a couple traveling Dahab? Before we dive into the nitty gritty, it’s important to note that one-half of the couple (Lev) went all out in terms of diving, including an Advanced Open Water course. The other half of the couple (Mia) did not do any diving, instead opting to snorkel everywhere. In terms of food, we did spend quite a bit more than expected, as we bought quite a bit of alcohol during our stay. But honestly, we were able to find even a whole bottle of rum for $3 (definitely a TERRIBLE bottle of rum, but it was $3), so drinking can be cheap here if you aren’t fussed about quality. With that out of the way, here is exactly how much we spent in Dahab over our 3.5 weeks here.
- Accommodation: $606.26
- Food and drinks: $902.31
- Transportation: $131.67
- Activities: $749.15
- SIM cards: $21.40
That’s a total spend of $2,410.79 USD for two people or $1,205.40 each.
SIM Cards in Dahab
When you first arrive in Egypt, we HIGHLY recommend coming prepared with an eSIM. We use Airalo, which has not failed us yet and is very budget-friendly. The reason for this is that you want to be connected from the get-go, as the airport can be pretty overwhelming, no matter which Egyptian airport you land in.
But once you arrive, we recommend switching over from the eSIM to a local SIM card. Local SIMs are just that much cheaper. We paid 525 EGP ($10.7 USD) for 24 GB + the SIM card at Orange and were very pleased with it.
Besides Orange, you could also check out Vodafone.
While you can get a local SIM card at an Egyptian airport, you generally pay a bit more money for the convenience. So, if you’d rather save a few bucks, you can also go to a mobile operator store once you are in town.
We got our Orange SIM cards in Cairo, but in Dahab, you’ll have to opt for Vodafone and get it from this store.
Transportation in Dahab for Digital Nomads
Dahab is a small town, so you won’t need to use transportation to get around. With that said, if you’d like a bit more comfort, you can rent a bicycle or scooter during your stay.
Beyond transportation within Dahab, you will also need to organize transportation when getting to and from the airport as well as getting to certain popular destinations, such as Blue Hole or Blue Lagoon.
We STRONGLY recommend that you pre-organize airport pick-up before you arrive. A ride to Dahab in a private car should cost around $25 USD, and the same to get back to the airport when you leave. Use Dahab expat Facebook groups to find the number of a reliable driver.
To get to places near the town of Dahab, you’ll ride pick-up truck taxis. You can either ride inside the truck or the bed. How much a ride costs depends on your destination, but for reference, a ride to Blue Hole should cost around 200 EGP or $4 USD.
Coworking Spaces in Dahab for Digital Nomads
There’s only one true coworking space in Dahab, El Coworking Space. This is the best place to work as a digital nomad in Dahab, as they actually offer decent wi-fi that’ll serve most nomad needs. However, most of the time, we cafe hopped around the town, as we love eating and drinking coffee as we work. These are the other coworking spaces in Dahab to consider:
- 11:11 Avenue: This was by far one of our favorite places to work, as they serve amazing coffee and breakfasts. They have a minimum spend, but this is easily met if you have breakfast or a couple of drinks here.
- Eel Garden View: This was our second favorite coworking space. The wi-fi was generally strong enough to handle most work, the food is amazing, and you can snorkel right off the restaurant.
- Treats: This is a small cafe that fills up quickly with nomads. So, if you want to work here, get here early!
- Mirage Restaurant: While the wi-fi here is slow, the view is great. This is located right by El Coworking Space.
Digital Nomad Visa in Dahab: How to Apply for the 6-Month Tourist Visa
While you may think you can only stay a maximum of 30 days in Egypt, you can easily get a visa extension for up to 6 months! But if you want to stay in Dahab longer than 30 days, you’ll need to read closely and follow all instructions BEFORE you go to Egypt.
First things first, it’s important to note that the 6-month extension is a single-entry visa, meaning if you leave Egypt at any point, the visa will be null and void, and you’ll need to start the process all over again when you return.
Also, keep in mind there is also a 3-month extension, but the cost is the same, so you might as well go for the longer one even if you’re initially only planning to stay a couple of months! It’s better to keep your options open.
Step One: Gather Everything You Need
In order to apply for the extension, you’ll need:
- Your passport
- Photocopies of your passport photo page
- Photocopies of your passport visa page
- Currency exchange receipt + photocopies
To pay for the visa, you need to exchange USD, EGP, or GBP for EGP for at least that amount. You must exchange the foreign currency for EGP in an approved bank, such as the National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, or Banque du Caire. When you exchange your money, you must receive a receipt that has your passport number. The amount you pay for the visa changes quite often, but as of November 2024, this is around $150 USD. Ask for more updated information in the Dahab Digital Nomads Facebook group.
Step Two: Get the Visa on Arrival
When you arrive in Egpyt, make sure you get the visa on arrival, NOT the e-visa. This means paying the $25 USD/EUR/GBP entry when you first arrive in the country to get the sticker on your passport. And when you get your stamp, make sure you get the Egypt entry stamp, not the Sinai Only stamp! The stamp also needs to be on the same page as your sticker.
Step Three: Apply
Once in Dahab or Sharm, head to the visa office in Sharm el-Sheikh. There, fill out the form for your 6-month visa and state your purpose of residency as tourism.
Step Four: Get Your Residency Card
In the next couple of weeks, you’ll need to head back to the visa office in Sharm to pick up your residency card. In the meantime, you’ll have a document that shows proof of application and payment.
Once you have your visa extension, you are technically an Egyptian resident, which means you also get to access resident prices for entry fees, which is a HUGE plus!
Best Restaurants in Dahab
Beyond the cafes we loved to frequent in the mornings for work and a lovely breakfast, we spent a lot of our time in Dahab exploring different restaurants. The great thing about Dahab is that you can find good food pretty much everywhere, but if you’re looking for the best of the best, according to our opinion as major foodies, here are the best restaurants in Dahab.
Shabka and Senara
Shabka and Senara was one of our favorite fish restaurants. Forget the main dishes on the menu. Head straight to the fish display and pick a fish you want to eat and get it cooked exactly how you want: grilled, fried, or traditional. You pay for the fish and other types of seafood by the kilo. We highly recommend getting shrimp cooked butterfly-style and grilled calamari as well. Don’t forget to get some rice to complement the seafood you get.
Seaduction
Seaduction is an amazing Lebanese restaurant on a rooftop in Assala. The food tastes as good as it looks. The restaurant itself has nice, chill vibes, perfect for a dinner date with a loved one or even multiple friends. It’s no wonder this restaurant is always busy! We highly recommend getting the makloubeh; it was absolutely delicious.
Pasta Mia
While Dai Pescatori might be the more popular pasta restaurant in Dahab, in our opinion, you can find better pasta at Pasta Mia. You can find a whole range of different pastas, with plenty of seafood options that you’ve got to take advantage of. Don’t expect classic Italian pastas, but that doesn’t make the food any less great.
Athanor
Craving pizza? Athanor is the best place to get a pizza in Dahab. This restaurant also serves various delicious pastas if pizza is not your thing.
Om Mahmoud
Om Mahmoud was one of our favorite local spots. This restaurant is where you can get authentic local Egyptian food, and it tastes amazing. There are a few vegetarian options as well. We absolutely loved the tagines, and we recommend trying pigeon here.
MiAMi Seafood
MiAMi Seafood is another great fish restaurant that’s just as good as Shabka and Senara. Just like the other fish restaurant, you pick what you want to be cooked, order some rice, and dig into a huge seafood feast of your own making. Yum!
Zanooba Slow Cooking
Zanooba is one of the more expensive restaurants in Dahab, but for good reason. This is the absolute BEST slow-cooked pot meal you’ll find. Keep in mind you need to order and book noon the day of, or even the day before, to allow for time for your food to cook for dinnertime. We recommend the slow-cooked duck, but you honestly can’t go wrong, so pick something that sings out to you! I know the honey garlic chicken and black pepper beef are some of the favorites.
Lemongrass
Craving some Thai food? We stumbled across Lemongrass when we were pretty hungry and looking for something a bit different. Lemongrass is not the best Thai restaurant you’ll ever eat at, but it’s definitely pretty good, considering it’s located in a small town in Egypt. With that said, we would recommend staying AWAY from the noodles. Instead, order the curry!
Kitchen Express
Another surprisingly good Asian restaurant is Kitchen Express. They have a rather large menu, which we took advantage of both times we ate here whenever we were craving something Asian. That said, it’s worth noting that the food wasn’t consistent, as the first time we ate here was a definite 5/5, whereas the second time, the sauce in our food wasn’t thickened enough, so we would give it a rating of 4/5. We recommend the duck in black pepper sauce and shandong as an appetizer.
Tricycle Burger
For the best burger in Dahab, head to Tricycle. This is a street food restaurant that serves delicious and affordable charcoal-grilled burgers with fresh ingredients. A burger from this restaurant is a must-have after a long day of diving or snorkeling! They have a bunch of different options to choose from, including fried chicken. And the serving sizes are so massive we ended up feeding the friendly street dogs as well as ourselves!
Princess Dahab
Princess Dahab is one of our favorite family-run businesses in Assala. They serve a variety of home-cooked Egyptian food at a very cheap price. We loved that they had a pretty large range of vegetarian and vegan foods as well. The family that runs it is also very friendly and sweet, which is a huge plus in our books.
Best Bars in Dahab
There’s nothing like having a cold beer at a beach destination. If you want to have a drink or two during your time in Dahab, the best bar to hang out in is Yalla Bar. This bar serves a variety of drinks, including beer and yummy cocktails. Plus, since it’s right on the beach, it’s a great place to relax all day and drink while snorkeling and swimming in the Lighthouse area.
Other than Yalla, other bars we’d recommend are:
- Coral Coast: Here, you can find wine, spirits, and (sometimes) draught beer
- Tota: Here, you can find beer and a couple of different mixed drinks, but the main reason to come is to watch (and participate in, if you’re feeling brave) the open mic, which takes place every Tuesday and Saturday at 8 PM.
Where to Go Grocery Shopping in Dahab
There are plenty of grocery stores all around Dahab that’ll sell your basic needs. Simply walk around the streets near you, and you’ll find your local shop. This will be the best place to do your basic grocery shopping. For produce, look for a local produce shop or go to the Thursday Vegetable Market. With that said, the biggest grocery store in Dahab is Ghazala, so if you can’t find something you’re looking for in your local store, you can try your luck here, though we can’t guarantee it when it comes to imported goods, as stock is limited all over Dahab.
Healthcare in Dahab
Dahab is a small town, so it may not come as a surprise to you that the healthcare facilities in Dahab are lacking. There are a couple of different hospitals in Dahab, which can come in handy in a pinch. But for proper healthcare, we would recommend going to Sharm el-Sheikh or a bigger city. The Sharm Peace Hospital is probably your best bet if you’re looking for some help. With that said, within Dahab, you can find some independent doctors and dentists as well.
If you’re simply seeking medicine, just head to one of the many pharmacies in Dahab and ask for the type of medicine you’re looking for. You can find many things over-the-counter here, and if you’re unsure of what to get, you can describe your symptoms, and the pharmacist will be able to help you.
When traveling in Egypt, we highly recommend getting travel medical insurance to cover you during your stay. We have used SafetyWing for years and could not recommend it more. This travel medical insurance will cover all of your basic needs and is incredibly nomad-friendly. It is made by nomads for nomads, after all!
When to Visit Dahab
The best months to visit Dahab are September, October, April, and May. November and March are a bit cooler but pleasant as well, with November, in particular, still offering slightly warmer water temperatures that are still fairly comfortable to swim in. You can also comfortably visit in the winter months, but keep in mind that the water temperature will be quite low, which won’t be as comfortable or fit for normal water activities when you don’t have a full wetsuit on.
Some people enjoy visiting Dahab in the summer but keep in mind that temperatures can soar to 40 degrees C and higher. But since you are right by the sea, this may not be as big of an issue for you. It would make for some pretty awful hiking days, however, if you are planning to do some hiking as well as water activities.
Just keep in mind that you’ll likely need to pack your bag differently depending on the season that you visit. Despite being a relatively warm destination throughout the year, you may need to pack a light jacket in the winter months.
Digital Nomad Community in Dahab
Being a small town, it’s pretty easy to spot other nomads around Dahab. While the digital nomad community may not be as large as those found in Bali or Lisbon, Dahab still offers a way for nomads to connect with one another. You just need to know where to look.
Of course, the El Coworking Space is one of the best places to find some community, as the coworking space also offers some events every now and then. But beyond the coworking space, look to Facebook groups. Specifically, the most helpful group to find community is the Dahab Digital Nomad Facebook group, which we’ve already mentioned a few times. Through these Facebook groups, you’ll also be able to find Whatsapp groups that host informal gatherings every now and then.
There are also plenty of events to connect with other nomads and expats in Dahab. Join yoga classes, beach cleanups, trivia nights, and open mic sessions… It’s pretty easy to meet other people in Dahab, as everyone is super friendly and open; just put yourself out there!
Basic Arabic to Know for Dahab
We always emphasize learning the language of the country you are in, no matter how temporary your stay is. Here are some basic Arabic words and phrases to know that will come in handy in Dahab.
- Shokran – Thank you
- Afwan – You’re welcome
- Yalla – Let’s go
- Mesh – OK
- Salaam aleikum – Hello
You can find some Arabic classes in Dahab if you’re serious about learning more.
Common Scams in Dahab
Dahab is a very safe travel destination, but just because it’s safe doesn’t mean you’ll come across scams every now and then. With that said, the “scams” in Dahab revolve more around inflated prices, more than anything else, unlike the variety of scams you may come across in Cairo or even Sharm el-Sheikh. So, here are some things to look out for.
Overpriced Taxis
The taxis in Dahab do not use meters. So, ALWAYS negotiate a price before you get in so that you know exactly how much you will pay. It is also worth asking locals beforehand how much a taxi ride to a specific destination should cost so that you don’t risk getting overcharged.
Overpriced Tours
There are a lot of activities and tours to do around Dahab. But never take the price as fixed. There is always room for negotiation, especially if you are doing a tour with multiple people. Shop around, and do your homework so that you don’t end up paying double everybody else is for the same tour!
Inflated Prices in General
One last place you will encounter inflated prices is when you’re shopping. There are plenty of stores around Dahab, and if there is no price tag, you’ll need to haggle. In our experience, the shops tended to start at pretty ridiculous prices before being haggled down.
For example, we were originally quoted a cotton maxi skirt for 2,000 EGP (around $40 USD), which we ended up paying 500 EGP (around $10) for. And another time, we shopped around for a pair of swimming trunks, which the guy initially told us cost 1,500 EGP (around $30 USD), but we managed to haggle the price down to 150 EGP (around $3 USD)
FAQ
Where is Dahab, Egypt?
Dahab is a cute Egyptian town on the Sinai Peninsula, right by the Red Sea. It is located northeast of Sharm el-Sheik.
Is the Blue Hole in Dahab dangerous?
Technically, the Blue Hole is one of the most dangerous diving spots in the world, and this is evidenced by the plaques commemorating those we have lost over the years. However, as long as you follow all safety precautions and don’t dive too deep, the Blue Hole is a safe dive.
How far is Dahab from Sharm el-Sheik?
Dahab is not far from Sharm el-Sheik, just 80 km or 50 mi northeast of Sharm and its airport. A taxi ride from the Sharm el-Sheik airport to Dahab takes an hour.
Is Dahab, Egypt, safe?
Absolutely! Dahab is a very safe town to visit and has a peaceful atmosphere.
How is Dahab for women?
As a woman, Mia never once felt unsafe in Dahab. She could safely walk around alone, even at night.
Dahab: A New Hotspot for Digital Nomads?
We really had the time of our lives in Dahab. It’s such a chill place to relax while partaking in some adventure sports. If you’re intrigued by the idea of staying in Dahab for a while as a digital nomad, do it! It’s probably the best place to base yourself in Egypt.
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