Sinai… Land, History, Customs and Traditions
Chairman Diaa Rashwan
Chief of the Information Sector Dr/Ahmed Abu Zayed
Prepared by Public Administration for Editing
Cover design Ramy Ahmed
Maquette & Art Direction Ahmed Sayed
Follow-up Supervision Nehad Raafat
Translated by Sinai Foreign Editing Department Land, History, Customs and Traditions English Section Heba Nabil Nesreen Nabeel Ola Gamal Rania Saad Riham Al Wakeel Yosra Gamal
English Review Azza Abd Rabou
English Proofreading Nesreen Nabeel
Executive Supervision Samia Badawy
General Supervision Adel Hussain 2021
Printing General Supervision Hossam Amin
Printing Press Director Eman Gaafar
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Sinai… Land, History, Customs and Traditions
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Sinai… Land, History, Customs and Traditions
Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………….……….5
Sinai Ancient Historical Name………………...………..………………………7
History of Sinai along Ages……………………………………………………11
Geographical and Climate Characteristics………………………………...…19
Location………………………………………………………………...…21
Landforms…………………………………………………………………22 Climate…………………………………………………………………….24
Geological Formations………………………………………………….…26
Demographic and Social Characteristics…………………………………..…27 Bedouin Tribes in Sinai……………………………………………………30
Population Activity…………………………………………………..……32
Social Life of Sinai Residents…………………………………………...... 33 Customs and Traditions……………………………………………………36
Food Etiquette………………………………………………………..……39
Bedouin Woman in Sinai………………………………………………..…42 Bedouin Man in Sinai………………………………………………...……50
Marriage Traditions……………………………………………………..…51
Bedouin Music and Singing…………………………………………….…53 Administrative Division of Sinai………………………………………………55
North Sinai Governorate………………………………………………..…57
South Sinai Governorate……………………………………………..……64
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Introduction
Sinai is the heart of Egypt, the eastern gateway and strategic region to protect national peace and security. It is the land of Egypt that embraced the prophets and religions who came carrying the torch of civilization. There is no doubt that the Sinai Peninsula has a special position in the heart of every Egyptian; a position shaped by geography, recorded by history and underlined by the arms and blood of Egyptians throughout ages. It has a strategic location, and is the key to Egypt's distinguished location in the heart of the world with its continents and civilizations. It is also the hub of communication between Asia and Africa, Egypt and the Levant, and the Arab East and West. Sinai is the rich environment with all components of beauty, nature and life with golden sands, majestic mountains, charming beaches, green valleys, wealth beneath seas, and the subsoil incorporating creatures, water, oil and minerals. .
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Sinai… Land, History, Customs and Traditions
Sinai Ancient Historical Name
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Sinai… Land, History, Customs and Traditions
According to the modern dictionary, the meaning of the name Sinai is "the land of the moon", in the ancient Canaanite or the Semitic language. Some historians mentioned that the origin of the word "Sinai" means "stone" due to the large number of its mountains, while its name in ancient hieroglyphs is "Toshret", meaning the land of aridity and bareness. Sinai was known in the Torah as "Horeb". It is agreed that the name Sinai, which was given to the southern part of Sinai, is derived from the name of the god "Sin", the god of the moon in ancient Babylon, where it was worshipped in western Asia, including Palestine. Then they united him to the god "Thoth", the Egyptian god of the moon whose worship was widely spread in this area. In the inscriptions of Serabit el-Khadim Temple and the Cave Valley, it became clear that there was no special name for Sinai. However, in some Egyptian sources dating back to the era of the
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modern Pharaonic state, Sinai is referred to as “Khast Mefkat” and sometimes "Ta Mefkat", meaning "the land of Turquoise." Allah the Almighty honors this precious land by mentioning it in the Munificent Quran. In Surah1 Al-Mu’minoon2 verse 20, Allah the Glorified refers to Sinai: “And [We brought forth] a tree issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food for those who eat”. He the Almighty also mentions it in Verse 1 and 2 of Surah Al-Teen: “By the fig and the olive, and [by] Mount Sinai”.
1 Surah: Quranic Chapter 2 Al-Mu’minoon: The name of a Quranic Chapter in Arabic; meaning the believers
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History of Sinai along Ages
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Sinai… Land, History, Customs and Traditions
Studies have proven the existence of stone constructions in Sinai that are known as “the Nawamis” dating back to the early Bronze Age and are believed to belong to the original dwellers of Sinai. In 1869, Palmer, the British Archaeologist uncovered some of these " Nawamis" near Ain Hadara on Catherine-Nuweiba Road. The first mention of Sinai was on the remaining written monuments, dating back to 3000 BC. It began with the formation of the first Egyptian Pharaonic family starting with Narmer, the founder of the family and the unifier of the country. Sinai was referred to as a source of copper, turquoise and aquamarine mines. It was known during the era of the Old Kingdom as a source of copper and turquoise, especially in Wadi Al-Maghara where inscriptions bearing the names of the most important kings of these countries were found. Sinai then played an important role, as it was a mine of raw materials used by the ancient Egyptians in industry.
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During the era of the Middle Kingdom, the Egyptians continued to exploit the area of mines in Sinai, but they moved to another site close to Wadi Al-Maghara, which is Serabit Al-Khadim, where they built a temple for the god Hathor and left hundreds of inscriptions bearing the names of their kings. Moreover, scientific and historic evidence proved that the Egyptians had lived in Sinai and reconstructed many areas in its north, middle and south lands. The Nabataeans extracted the turquoise from Wadi Al-Maghara and the copper from Wadi Al-Nusb in Sinai and left numerous rock inscriptions in the valleys of Sinai, such as “Wadi Umm Sidra” between Taba and the Negev, the Dafadef Plateau, and the Hajjaj Plateau between Catherine, Nuweiba and Dahab. Such inscriptions include memorial writings and several names. A commercial and religious center for the Nabateans in North Sinai was discovered, which was the path of the Holy Family's on its way to Egypt from Bethlehem to Hebron and then Beersheba at the coastal road northern Sinai.
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Sinai was also one of the most important crossings during the first centuries of the Islamic expansion. In this vein, the Islamic expansion encouraged some Bedouins in the Arabian Peninsula to migrate to Sinai and settle there; which helped in spreading the religion of Islam among the dwellers. During the era of the Crusaders, Baldwin I; the Crusader ruler of Jerusalem constructed a fortified castle in "Ayla" on the coast of the Aqaba Gulf to be able to control the land route of the convoys between Egypt and the Levant. He also constructed another fortress on "Pharaoh's Island", thus enabling the Crusaders to oversee the Sinai Peninsula, which stirred cherished religious memories and feelings. In the Ayyubid era, Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi rebuilt and repaired the port of Al-Tur. In 1184, boats were reassembled and the port was reconstructed, as well as boats carrying goods arrived from Yemen. Afterwards, grains were regularly sent to the Hijaz, thus encouraging trade in the Red Sea. Salah Al-Din had also built his famous castle in Sinai on the “Pharaoh’s Island” and “Al-Gondi Castle” in Ras Sidr. He was also able to take advantage of the surrounding
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environment in building the castle and found a hill from which the granite stones were cut and used in the construction. The Mamluk era is considered the beginning of the phase of stability in the Sinai Peninsula as a result of the cessation of the waves of Arab migration, the remarkable interest in the pilgrimage route to Mecca and Medina, and the change in the importance of Sinai as of the fourteenth century AD. After it was, since the Islamic expansion, a mere bridge crossed by the different tribes of the Hijaz and the Levant, on their way to the Nile Valley, it became a tribal refuge. As for the Ottomans, they took a keen interest in Sinai due to their awareness of its strategic and commercial importance, so the movement of trade between Egypt and the Levant gained popularity. This had an impact on the Sinai residents who transfer the commercials between the two countries. Due to its low cost and facility of transportation, the land route was the preferred for transporting goods, thus the state paid due attention to securing it. The French campaign had also shed light on the strategic and defense importance of Sinai and revived the idea of digging a canal between the Red and the Mediterranean Seas. In the era of Muhammad Ali's family, Muhammad Ali Pasha established the governorate of Arish within the administrative divisions that he made. A famous French scientist had also visited
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Sinai and collected information on all its plants, presented the first scientific edition and published his journey in 1835 AD in the Geographical Society's Journal of Paris. Ibrahim Pasha, the son of Muhammad Ali, paid due attention to the road to Qatiya, Bir al-Abd, Masudiyah, Arish, Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, so he restored wells along the road, such as wells of Qatiya, Bir al-Abd, Sheikh Zuweid, and others. During that period, many important reforms and services were carried out. The sending of mails was organized for the first time in Sinai and set major stations for that in the cities of Qantara, Qataya, Bir Al-Abd, Bir Al-Mazar, Arish and Sheikh Zuweid". Sentinels had been deployed along the areas of the wells to ensure safety. Abbas Pasha I was interested in visiting Sinai and touring it as a strategic center to the Levant, so he ordered the establishment of a road linking the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Tor Sinai and the summit of Mount Musa, ordered building a headquarters for him that is still remaining on one of the mountains west of Mount Musa, and proposed the idea of establishing a resort to exploit the sulfur water near Al-Tur. Khedive Said Pasha also paid due attention to securing the pilgrimage route and established the quarantine at al- Tour. During his reign, Sinai entered a new phase by granting a French company the concession of digging the Suez Canal. Furthermore, educational and exploration expeditions continued to be sent to Sinai. In 1848, the French Countess “De Gaspar” visited
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Sinai and gave an accurate description of the customs and traditions there. Moreover, the expedition of the French government was able to count the Pharaonic Sinai monuments, especially in the areas of the "Cave Valley and Serabit El-Khadem". The map of Sinai had changed during the reign of Khedive Ismail with the beginning of the construction of the Suez Canal which made it a peninsula after digging this great waterway to have an important role in Egypt's modern history. New cities were constructed in this area, such as Qantara Sharq, and on the western shore of the canal, the cities of Ismailia, Port Said, and Qantara Gharb were built. Scientific expeditions to study Sinai and its resources, have been doubled. During the reign of Khedive Tawfiq, administrative changes took place with the annexation of Arish to the interior and the appointment of a royal governor assisted by some policemen. During the British occupation of Egypt, Britain paid due attention to Sinai and allocated a sum of money to the scientific expeditions and surveillances.
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Geographical and Climate Characteristics
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Location The Sinai Peninsula is located in Northeastern Egypt, and takes the shape of a triangle; its top is in the southern part. It is bounded to the east by the Gulf of Aqaba and to the west by the Gulf of Suez, and to the north of this triangle the remaining part is in the form of parallelograms. Its northern border is the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, its southern border is the border line connecting the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and that of the Gulf of Suez, its eastern border is Egypt’s political boundary, and its western border is the Suez Canal. Sinai is located between latitudes 27.44 South at Ras Muhammad, and 20.31 North at Tal Rafah on the Mediterranean coast. Moreover, it extends from longitudes 18.32 West at the eastern shore of Lake
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Timsah (Crocodile Lake) 34.54 to East at Taba on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. The area of Sinai Peninsula is about 61,000 km2, equivalent to about 6% of Egypt's total area. Sinai enjoys an important geographical and strategic location, bordered to the North by the Mediterranean Sea, to the West by the Gulf of Suez and the Suez Canal, to the East by Palestine and the Gaza Strip, the Gulf of Aqaba, and to the South by the Red Sea. Sinai is mainly surrounded by water from most sides, as it is situated between three waterways: The Mediterranean Sea from the north (120 kilometers long), the Suez Canal from the west (160 kilometers), the Suez Gulf from the southwest (240 kilometers), and the Gulf of Aqaba from the southeast and east (150 km) long. Sinai overlooks about 30% of the coasts of Egypt. Landforms Sinai with its triangular shape is geologically defined as being part of the Great Arab Shield, where the rocks of this shield appear in the South with a regional inclination towards the North, where
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it is followed by a sector of sedimentary rocks. Sinai is geographically divided into three natural regions where each of them is clearly distinguished from the others in terms of terrain and natural components, as follows: Plain Region in the North: It extends on an area of about 21,000 km2; which represents around third the area of Sinai. It consists of vast plains of soil suitable for agriculture. This area extends from the coast on the Mediterranean to Jabal Al-Maghara at the South, and from Rafah at the East to Port Fouad at the West, and is characterized by being flat land covered by soft sand with some fruit trees growing there. This area is characterized by sand dunes, and some rugged areas that the residents call Al-Uqdah ”Locknut”; due to being a rugged and uninhabited area that makes it difficult to reside there. To the west of the region is the Bir Al-Abd area, and its most important sites are Lake Bardawil and Ghouta Al-Nakhel.
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Plateau Region in Central Sinai: It includes two plateaus; El-Tih in the North, and Al-Ajmah in the South, which is a huge barrier that is almost impossible to be crossed and gradually slopes towards the North. El-Tih Plateau consists of a great plain with rigid soil, interspersed with some mountains. This part of Sinai is separated by a series of mountains known as El-Tih mountains that extend in the direction of Suez to Aqaba regions. Moreover, Al-Raha Mountains which overlook the head of the Gulf of Suez, are the most famous mountains in this region. The Mountainous Region in the South: It is located on an area of 19,000 km2. Its mountains are distinguished by their height with sharp and pointed peaks. The top of Mount Saint Catherine is the highest peak in this region. The most famous mountains are “Al-Tur,” “Musa,” “Al-Munajat,” and “Al- Ahmar.” It is considered the most rugged part of the Sinai Peninsula. Climate Due to the geographical location, the miscellaneous topography and the outstretched area of Sinai, climate varies greatly. The Sinai Peninsula, with the exception of its Northern sector, is considered one of the desert and semi-desert areas in terms of general climate; it is very hot in summer and leans to be warm in winter. It is also frequently exposed to hurricanes and weather depressions in most
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months of the year. Its wind is either coming from the north or the northwest in the summer and autumn, or from the southwest in winter. As regards its Climate, Sinai is divided into two distinct parts: The Northern Region: The climate is characterized by a relatively mild and rainy winter, a hot and stable summer without rain and clear skies. As for the spring and autumn seasons, the weather is relatively inconstant, with variable temperature according to the seasons of the year. The Southern Region: Its climate is relatively diverse, and varies within it from the coastal regions on the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba to the inland highlands. Temperature in this region is moderate in winter, relatively high in summer, and during autumn and spring it ranges between 20-30 °C. Wind is northwest and northeast most of the year and sometimes southeast. Annual rainfall on Sinai in general is less than 200 mm in the far north at Rafah and Arish, and is less than 20 mm in the far south at Ras Muhammad, except the high-central south (the mountain region) where the amount of rainfall ranges between 50-150 mm annually.
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Geological Formations Most Egyptian geological formations are found in Sinai; the composition of the rocks consists of igneous and metamorphic ones, representing the rock foundation on which the sedimentary layers that were formed during different geological eras are based. Sinai is rich in valleys since the rainy ages, most of which are short and steep except for Wadi El-Arish. In Sinai, there are invested underground water in the north, especially between Al-Qantara and Rafah. In the Sinai Mountains, there are several springs, such as that of the Monastery of Saint Catherine and those of Wadi Hamira. Since ages, rainwater gathers in reservoirs dug into the rocks.
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Demographic and Social Characteristics
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Sinai… Land, History, Customs and Traditions
According to January 2020 statistics and the latest Egyptian census, the population of the Sinai Peninsula reaches about 559,289. The population is divided into urban residents, rural and Bedouins, and the population density is concentrated more in the coastal cities than in inner ones. Several factors had impacted the population growth and distribution in Sinai; foremost are the political and military ones as Sinai was Egypt’s most vulnerable region to wars and the movement of the army throughout history. Therefore, despite its huge potentials, Sinai remained a region of population fluctuation. The distribution of population is linked to the topography of Sinai and the water resources. A large percentage of the population is settled in the northern regions overlooking the Mediterranean; the areas of
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“Arish, Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, Bir Al-Abd, and Al-Qantara,” in addition to the coastal plain that extends along the Gulf of Suez and includes the areas of “Al-Tur, Abu Rudeis, Abu Zenimah, and Ras Sidr”. Moreover, population density has increased in the tourist development areas, especially on “the Gulf of Aqaba, Sharm el- Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Saint Catherine and Taba,” while a large population is spread among the mountainous areas in central Sinai, such as Al-Hassana, Wadi Ferran and others. Bedouin Tribes in Sinai The people of Sinai were known in Pharaonic Egypt as the masters of sand terrain. In the Torah, their name was also associated with the story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their wandering in the Sinai desert, where they were known as "the giants". In the sixth century AD, they were known as "the Arabs of Bani Ismail (Prophet Ismael’s Descendants)". The most famous tribes in Sinai, according to the geographical division, can be divided into three groups, as follows: 1- North Sinai Tribes: Al-Sawarka: The largest tribe that dwell in the eastern part of Arish, and Bir Al-Abd. Al-Rumailat: They are tribes who left Palestine and joined Al- Sawarka and became one community. They live in Arish and Rafah.
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Al-Masaeed: The second strongest tribe of Arish after Al-
Sawarka. It is a branch of Al-Ahwayat Tribe. Al-Ayayeda: They live in the suburbs of Al-Qantara, Tal Haywa, Umm Al-Dabyan, Sheikh Hamid and Jabal Al-Risha. Al-Akharesa: A large tribe that lives in the Rummana area and has an extension in the governorates of Sharkia and Ismailia. This tribe lives in Bir Al-Abd between Al-Qantara Sharq and Arish. Al-Saadeein: They are neighbors of Al-Bayadin and Sama'na. Al-Dawaghra: They are from Arab Mutair, and they live in Al-Raqba area. Al-Jabaliya: they live in the mountain of Al-Tur; to which they belong. In addition to several other tribes. 2- Central Sinai Tribes: Al-Teeyaha: The oldest tribe of Teeh (wandering) people. It is said that its origin is from Banu Hilal. Al-Tarabin: It is well-known that they are the descendants of Hassan bin Ali (May Allah’s Blessings Be upon Them). They are distributed in Gaza City and Sinai. There are more tribes, including al-Ahyawat, al-Huwaitat, and Al-Badara.
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3- South Sinai Tribes: Al-Ulaiqat: They inhabit the area between Ramla and the Grendel Valley. Muzainah: Their origin goes back to Banu Harb, where they were famous for their love of peace and honesty. Their place extends from the south of the city of Al-Tur to Al-Ramla. Al-Awarmah: They live in the city of Al-Tur. Awlad Saeed: They live in the city of Al-Tur. Qararsha: It was said that its origin is from the tribe of Quraish, and they live in the heart of Al-Tur city. Population Activity In light of the instability of the environmental resources in Sinai, economic activities of the population have diversified to suit these resources, as their activities focus on: 1 – Grazing: The wealth of a Bedouin family is measured by the amount of livestock it possesses. If a family owns a large number of camels and cattle, but does not have enough male children, or finds it difficult to take care of them, they resort to hire a "shepherd", who is mainly from young relatives under the age of marriage.
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2 - Agriculture:
The Bedouins also perform seasonal agriculture on rain. They mainly fear from the drought and rain delay due to the scarcity of wells and springs in their region. 3 - Hunting: It is one of the common hobbies in Sinai; most Bedouins are fond of hunting and they go out on hunting trips that may last for several days, in which they penetrate into the desert. Some of them have excellent skills in hunting deer, hares, bustards, and quails that come in the autumn. Social Life of Sinai Residents The social life of Sinai residents is based on blood ties; the population is coherent in the form of tribes, clans and families, with the sheikh (chieftain) as the head of the tribe’s social pyramid, assisted by the customary judges and tribe leaders. Each tribe has its own region and borders are drawn with their neighboring tribes. Each tribe only searches for food and water within the borders of its region. The Bedouin does not abandon his region except for compelling reasons. The loyalty of the Bedouin is due first to his tribe, then to his clan and his family. He boasts about this loyalty, therefore he memorizes the chain of his ancestors and teaches it to his children. The Bedouin is raised by his adherence to the principles of brotherhood, and relieving the distressed, taking into account the
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sanctity of the neighbor, chastity, truth and honesty. Every tribe has its own customs and traditions that separate them from the other tribes; food, drink, housing and clothing. The Bedouin is keen to strengthen his relations with members of his tribe, develop his social position among them, and get over the harassments that may spoil his relationship with them. By nature, the Bedouin is wary of the unknown, so he is an expert in forecasting weather, the fall of rains, the occurrence of torrents and the expectation of drought. Dialects in Sinai diverse according to various tribes; each tribe has its own dialect that distinguishes it from the other tribes. The origin of all Bedouin dialects in Sinai are taken from Standard Arabic; the best spoken Arabic is found among the major tribes in Sinai. The Bedouin community in Sinai is a slow-responding society to the cultural and economic variables, maybe due to their keenness to glorify the past, and being proud of their customs, traditions and values, and of the lives of their ancestors. The Bedouin House: The Bedouin house reflects many of the customs and traditions of the Bedouin community in Sinai. The Bedouins in Sinai do not know stable
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dwellings due to their frequent travels, so their houses travel with them wherever they go. These houses are made by the Bedouins themselves from the goat hair, the sheep's wool and the camel’s dander. The Bedouin woman plays the main role in that. Among the advantages of beit al-sha'ar (house of hair) is that it is light, transportable from one place to another, and it preserves the temperature so that the cold weather does not reach inside, and prevents rain water from seeping in the winter. These houses are built with a known and calculated system; if the house is in the North, its door opens to the East. However, if the house is in the central and southern Sinai, the doors open towards the southeast, taking into account the direction of the wind; as the house always opens against the direction of the winds. Most of these houses consist of six rooms, whereas at ease, it consists of 12 rooms. The Bedouins take the materials of their home from the natural environment; from the animals and the desert trees surrounding them, with the exception of pottery, wood and copper tools, which they buy from the markets of neighboring cities. Furthermore, the contents of the Bedouin house are made by the Bedouins themselves which are lightweight
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tools that are easily portable, due to the nomadic life of the Bedouin community. Customs and Traditions The Sinai nomadic community is governed by customs and traditions varied from the rest of the Egyptian society. Due to intergenerational inheritance derived mainly from the surrounding environment, these traditions have a special ineffaceably deep- rooted sanctity. Among the customs and traditions of the Sinai Bedouins are expressing gratitude, fulfilling vows, being proud of lineage, having courage, as well as showing courtesy, self-esteem and pride. The following are the most important nomadic customs and traditions: Honoring Guests The Sinai Bedouins are as famous for their generosity as the whole nomadic community. They compete to honor the guest attending their council, as well as they extend hospitality, especially to strangers. The competition may reach verbal altercations to honor the guest. Customary Judiciary The nomadic community possesses a set of rules and provisions accumulated over years due to enormous wealth of experiences. The Bedouins have enacted rules practiced by nomadic tribes and clans as an unwritten law. This law has not been basically stood to impose
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punishment or retribution, but rather to protect the structure and the existence of the tribe. Alliances and Qala’ed3 Each tribe builds up alliances and qala’ed with other tribes; the alliance is a dual defensive and offensive treaty, whereas al-quld4 is a peace-keeping treaty preventing inter-tribal war or invasion. Each tribe has a person called Haseeb5 who preserves vows with other clans. Intra-Bedouin Preservation of Lineages and Tribalism The Bedouins people brag about their lineage and extremely investigate their origin until they reach their forefathers. The tribalism begins with the “family”, followed by the “faction” consisting of several families, and ultimately the "tribe", such as Adnan and Qahtan. Atwa (Truce) If an armed inter-tribal conflict erupts and continues for a long period, one of the parties may request atwa (truce) or cessation of fighting. The period of atwa ranges from three days to fourteen months in the presence of figureheads and chieftains representing fighting clans.
3 Qala’ed: A plural Arabic word that means “peace-keeping pacts” 4 Al-quld: the singular Arabic word of qala’ed (peace-keeping pacts) 5 Haseeb: It means in Arabic the person who guarantees and preserves vows with other tribes
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Tuluo’a (Brotherhood) If a tribe weakens after a war or conflict, it can join another tribe under the bond of tuluoa’ (brotherhood) to preserve its existence. Tuluo’a bond may take place inter-tribes as if they are one, or intra- tribal unity among Bedouin families of the same tribe. Tabyeed6 and Tasweed7 Tabyeed is raising a white flag on or near a known source of water or on a route as a token of gratitude to a specific person. Whereas Tasweed is raising a black flag on a source of water or on a known route to defame someone for committing an ugly act or failing to fulfill a debt. Face-Saving Concept It is resorting to a dignitary or a chieftain to deter danger or quarrel between two persons or two tribes. If two men or tribes fight, and the prestigious or dignified person interferes and says, “Save Face!”, the two factions shall stop fighting immediately because “face-saving” concept has substantial inviolability intra-Bedouins. Whereas, if the two factions do not stop fighting, the dignitary asked them to save face shall resort to the “customary judge” to impose penalties against “face-losing” faction. The penalty varies according to the status and dignity of “face-lost” person.
6 Tabyeed (Whitening): Raising white flag 7 Tasweed (Blackening): Raising black flag
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Prestige
Sometimes, the customary judge adjudicates a large sum of money in cases of homicide or honor, where the convict may not be able to afford these sums. Thus, the whole tribe incurs the amount, and each adult tribal male pays a share. However, in case that the tribe incurs too much money or fails to reimburse, then chieftains and figureheads from this tribes and others resort to the right-holder asking him to reduce or waive the fine. This delegation is called the “delegation of prestige”. Frequently, the right-holder agrees to generously waive the fine or part of it. Tracking (Hunting) The Bedouins are famous for their ability to trace environmental signs. The art of tracking is not a learned profession, but rather an innate talent that develops with gaining the experiences of the ancestors. Some trackers have become famous, so they are resorted to in urgent cases and due to this experience, the tracker is as essential as the judge. Food Etiquette Sinai Bedouins have some table manners and etiquette, can be summarized as follows: Despite the scarcity of water, the Bedouin is keen on washing his hands before eating and provides the guest with water to also do this.
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The eldest person is the one who sits first at the table and then the younger. Children do not eat at first but remain serving adults until they finish eating, and women do not share men at the table. Talking while eating on the table is desirable and the Bedouin intentionally keeps any conversation going on the table. It is detestable to serve food very hot, very cold, or extra salty. The Bedouin uses hands to eat food; he does not eat except with the right hand and eats speedily. He drinks Arabic coffee before and after eating. The Bedouins provide abundant food to guests much more than they need. They cut the meat on the table in front of the guest and urge him to eat it. The Bedouins are accustomed not to eat the rumen, the head or legs from their carcass; they perceive that this is impermissible for the free Bedouins. Sucking bones is a bad habit and they call the person who does this "bone sucker"; a metaphor given to a lowly person. Salient Sinai Food: The Sinai community is characterized by certain natural meals cooked in a healthy way over a wood fire. Salient Sinai dishes are: Mansaf The main and the first national meal for the nomadic people in Sinai is the "Mansaf". The dish is served on a large platter with a
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layer of flatbread, then the meat broth or creamy Jameed sauce and ghee are poured, and topped with rice and meat. Mandi It is a goat that is slaughtered, cleaned, washed well, and then marinated in a large bowl with a mixture of onions, garlic, green pepper and lemon. It is stuffed with yellow rice and liver pieces. Assida (Porridge) Assida is the popular traditional dish for the nomadic desert inhabitants in Sinai. It is a porridge made up of semolina flour, ghee, milk, ground cardamom, and a little quantity of dates. Farashih (Bedouin Bread) Farashih is considered one of the few types of sweets on the Bedouin menu. Women are unique in preparing it as they are excellent in making it thinner and larger than traditional bread. It consists of flour, milk and sugar. Allassimah It is the most famous North-Sinai Bedouin food. It consists of flour and baby watermelon in which no seeds have been formed. Kamounia It is absolutely their favorite dish. It is made up of the liver, the spleen and the intestine of the sheep or goats. they are washed quite well with water and salt and soaked in vinegar and onions, and then cut into small pieces. Afterwards, onion and tomatoes are browned
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in a flat "pan" and then the marinated pieces of meat are added with salt, pepper and a lot of cumin. The cumin gives a wonderful smell with that of the charcoal. Maqluba (Upside-Down Dish) One of the most iconic popular and favorite dishes in Sinai, especially in the North, is the Maqluba. Its ingredients are chicken or meat, eggplant or cauliflower, rice, potatoes, almonds, onions, salt and spices. Bedouin Woman in Sinai Bedouin Woman Fashion and Jewelry The Bedouin clothing industry is a profession that conveys the history and culture of the Sinai Bedouins. Women make traditional Bedouin embroidered clothes inside their small houses, under the supervision of some Civil Associations in Sinai, aiming at increasing the income of Bedouin women and preserving the Sinai
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heritage. Foreign tourists pounce upon buying these mainly handcrafted costumes with exquisite Bedouin style. The most prominent aspect of the Sinai's costume is that it represents an important identity for the person wearing it. It refers to the tribal heritage; some embroidered costumes indicate the tribe to which the Bedouin woman belongs. The clothes of the married woman differ from that of the unmarried. In manufacturing these costumes, cotton materials of striped and plain gabardine are used. Linen is used by women of prominent social status; the married woman wears the garment embroidered in red, whereas the old woman or the widower wears the blue-embroidered dress. The area of the embroidered part of the garment is a symbol of joy and indicates the well-off conditions. "Abu Qerdan" dress is considered a costume that is widely used in all tribes, especially in weddings and events. It is
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characterized by wide, triangular and long winged sleeves that almost reach the floor. However, it is rarely used now due to the difficulty of using these sleeves and the plentiful decorations costing a lot of money and consuming much time. Bedouin embroidery is considered one of the most important heritage landmarks in Sinai, which attracts tourists from all over the world to buy. Bedouin women master the art of embroidery by nature since childhood, as they begin to embroider their wedding dress and wedding clothes from the age of nine. Among the most famous characteristics of the Sinai Bedouins, especially women, are tattoos that are still popular in various shapes on different parts of the face, hands and feet. The tattoo reflects images from the natural environment and is considered a manifestation of beauty. The most important adornment tools are the comb, the mirror, the kohl (traditional eyeliner), and the limited clove-water mix of perfume. However, she used other things to be bejeweled, such as: Burqa: She is skilled at decorating it with gold, silver and colored beads. Tattoos: She draws it on the lips and the back of the hands. Shanaf: It is a nose ring of gold that a married woman puts on. Suwarat: It is a bracelet worn on the wrist of the hands. Slitat: They are silver ornaments worn on the wrists. Ring: It is worn on the fingers of the hands.
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Necklaces: They are used to ornament the chest and the neck.
They may be made of gold, silver, or colored beads. The Bedouin woman in Sinai is interested in arranging her hair in the form of braids, adding strands of wool ended with tassels of silk and decorated with beads. She also covers her head with a ribbon hanging on both sides decorated with silver or metal coins. The girl pierces her nose while she is young until she gets married she puts a nose ring of gold and silver. There are many necklaces for neck and chest, which have a distinctive characteristic that differs from that in other Egyptian desert regions in terms of shape and design. The Bedouin woman uses necklaces made of amber, coral and colored beads. As for the adornment of the hand, Sinai woman puts on silver and metal bracelets of various sizes and shapes, and the woman also uses rings made of silver or metal decorated with agate or turquoise. These stones are associated with certain beliefs such as preventing envy and attracting love. The Bedouin woman in Sinai is the backbone of the house, where the man relies on her to raise and care for children. Moreover, her role is more evident through her participation in herding, cultivation, spinning and
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weaving. She is very active in performing the work entrusted to her. It is the responsibility of the woman to establish beit al-sha'ar built from goat hair by spinning, weaving and assembling what she collects annually from the goat hair. The interest of nomadic woman in working in spinning, weaving and embroidery seems to be a reflection of her social status; as this work does not require going out of the house, which is in line with the prevailing traditions in Sinai Society. Bedouin Woman Inheritance Rights One of the most important rights, which is the Bedouin woman is deprived of in Sinai, in spite of being approved by Islamic Sharia (Divine laws) and the man-made laws, is that the woman obtains her right to inherit from her father, brother or husband. This is because the Bedouin community believes that the inherited money shall go to strangers (the husband of the inheriting woman from outside the family and the tribe). Bedouin Women and the Customary Judiciary The provisions of the Bedouin ruling gave woman all kinds of protection in the nomadic life so that no one could approach her. The customary judiciary tighten up its rulings to intimidate and threaten the man from harming the woman.
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Sinai Woman Political Participation
The provisions of the Bedouin law gave the woman all protection in the desert so that no one could abuse her, and the customary judiciary exaggerated its rulings in intimidating and frightening the man from affecting the woman. Workshops are organized to prepare and qualify young Sinai woman leaders to enhance their political participation of Sinai women. They are based on the definition of political awareness, political participation and the concept of citizenship in International Conventions of Human Rights. Woman's Political Rights Following Sinai liberation from the occupation, and as Sinai woman took her first steps to exercise her political rights, her way was not easy at all. The Bedouin woman in Sinai has contributed alongside the man in all fields and various levels. On the social, local, and party levels, the steadfast Sinai woman deserves credit for the failure of Israel to penetrate into Sinai community and failure to Judaize Sinai over the course of twelve years of occupation. As for the defense of woman's rights and the demand for equality, when a decision was issued preventing women
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from being judges, the Sinai woman organized sit-ins and protests to express rejection of such unfair verdict. As for the participation of Sinai’s women in elections and voting, they have contributed in the past Shura Council elections. Education and Bedouin Women in Sinai The woman in the desert Bedouin community in Sinai has an elevated standing and esteem; she is a thoroughbred, the backbone of the house, and the symbol of honor, pride and dignity. Hence, there is a great concern and a fear on her, the matter which made some Bedouins extremely reject the case of educating Bedouin girls. Bedouins do not educate girls for several reasons: 1) The Sinai nomadic community suffered from lack of vision regarding girls’ education, as he set her aside to help him in herding sheep. The community conceives that the girl will ultimately marry and will not offer her family any financial return according to their belief and traditions. 2) Mixing between boys and girls is one of the reasons that prevent the nomadic community from educating girls. They consider that mixing between males and females brings shame to the family and the clan. Moreover, they believe that mixing calls for immorality. 3) The remoteness of schools from place of residence.
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4) The continuous migration of the nomadic Bedouins in search of
food is one of the reasons that make them refuse to teach girls. Literacy: Literacy committees and classes have spread everywhere in Sinai to educate women who want to eradicate their illiteracy. The greatest evidence of the influence of education and the educational renaissance in Sinai is that Hosnia Omar Awad, the nomadic female writer who grew up on Mount Saint Catherine, wrote a book on Sinai's woman's rights. Civil Society and Community Participation of Sinai Woman Civil society institutions play a major role in Sinai, especially with regard to women and the development process. North Sinai Governorate has undertaken governmental and private initiatives to develop Sinai. It made 2014 “the year of Sinai development”, with the participation of Governmental Initiatives, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), NGOs and businessmen. The state has provided LE one billion and eight-hundred million for development projects in various sectors. Woman Problems in Bedouin Community A large percentage of women beyond the age of thirty in Sinai do not have birth certificates, especially the nomadic woman who has not enrolled in education at all. This implies that they do not obtain an identity card; the reason is that the parents refuse to issue birth
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certificates for girls. Whereas, the father issues birth certificates for the boy immediately after his birth so that he can enter school. This has recently led to many problems for woman, as she needs an identity card in order to be able to claim her rights in the event of divorce or to get the pension of her deceased husband, which causes her to suffer. According to statistics of the National Council for Women (NCW), the percentage of Bedouin women without birth certificates has reached more than 50%, and the same is the case for those without identity cards. The other problem is that the majority of women in Sinai do not have a marriage certificate, especially in central Sinai, the villages of Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, the villages of Arish in North Sinai, Nuweiba, Dahab, Taba and the villages of South Sinai because women marry unofficially. The customs and traditions of the Bedouin community do not have a marriage certificate, which results in the loss of woman's rights. In the event of divorce, the wife fails to obtain divorce certificate due to the absence of a marriage certificate. Bedouin Man in Sinai Costume Among the Bedouin man costume is a black overall cloak called "Dafia", used for various purposes. In winter, men wear Furry jacket with sleeves and buttons. As for the rest of the Bedouins, they rarely
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wear trousers, and all of them wear "slippers" made of animal skin. They wear "turban" on head; a white cloth made of cotton. All of them wear belts in which they put money, or a two-edged curved knife called "Shabriah", whose socket is sewn to the belt. Furthermore, each of them should carry a sword under his left armpit. Most their swords are curved, whereas their sheaths are decorated with silver. Marriage Traditions Bedouins prefer early marriage, usually from relatives. The man’s closest relatives to whom it is permissible to marry is his cousin or one of the tribe’s girls. There are some marital customs and traditions among the Bedouins, salient of which are the following: Qassalah8 Marriage: The man proposes to the girl indirectly asking her father or her guardian to marry her, and he goes with his father or his elder brother. If the girl is a virgin, she is not asked for her consent, but if she is thayyib (a previously married woman), then she must be asked for her opinion and her consent to marry the person who proposed to her. If the girl’s father or the guardian agrees on the marriage, he gives a green stick to the suitor and tells him that this is the qassalah (the token that the bride would be his wife). As of the date of presenting the qassalah, it is not permissible for the bride to dissolve
8 Qassalah: A kind of token given to the bridegroom as a vow that the bride would be his wife
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the marriage except with the consent of the groom, whereas the latter may dissolve it without restriction or condition. The dowry varies according to the degree of kinship between the spouses; the closer the relationship, the lower the dowry and vice versa. Marriage Furniture The simplicity of marriage furniture refers to the simplicity of the nomadic people. The wife does not bear any financial burdens except for embroidering her wedding dress, and she does it herself. As for the husband, he does not bear anything except a dress and a cloak for the bride. The groom gives his mother-in-law a four-year-old camel, in honor of her and in return for breastfeeding his wife when she was young. As for the furniture of the marital home, it is no more than a sleeping cover and a pillow. After the wedding ceremony, the spouses join the family's home of the groom where they live in for years until the husband decides to be independent and live separately from his family. This case is called “separation,” where he left his family’s home to furnish a new one. Wedding Ceremony The groom's family sets the date of the wedding and sends the family, relatives, friends and neighbors the date of the wedding ceremony, which is often Friday or Monday night. Prior to the wedding night, white flags are raised and camel and horse races are held. On the wedding day, well-wishers come carrying gifts and the atmosphere of joy and fun continues until late. At noon, the groom
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accompanied by an elderly woman, such as his mother or his aunt, as well as one of his friends, riding two camels to bring the bride. Divorce Divorce is rare in the nomadic society of Sinai, due to the fact that the wife is often the cousin or a kinship. This preserves the ties of kinship intra-family or clan. Asking for Divorce Asking for divorce is the wife’s request for divorce (separation) from her husband. Asking for divorce may take place by mutual consent between the two families of the wife and of the husband, or it may take place by litigation; before the customary judge. The divorce of the woman does not affect her chances of marrying another man. Bedouin Music and Singing The Bedouin singing has its origins in the pre-Islamic era, and it is characterized by being short melodic songs which are re-tuned at every section of poetry. Singing is exchanged by a solo singer and a group of singers from the tribe. There are also musical instruments that distinguish the nomadic society, including the following: Shoubbaba:9 It is a wind musical instrument with a hollow tube of reed or metal. Its length is about half a meter or slightly less and it has six holes.
9 A flute-like wind musical instrument
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Maqroona:10 It is a two-tube flute made of hollow reed sticks. These two tubes are parallel and linked to each other with strong strings that are wrapped on the reeds from the bottom and the top. Rebab:11 An ancient single-string musical instrument known to the Arabs in their deserts since ancient times. It spread so widely that you can almost find it in every Bedouin house. Playing the rebab is considered an ancient art for the nomadic inhabitants. Simsimiyya:12 Although Simsimiyya is the first popular folk instrument in presenting the marine arts. It is essential in the singing of the people of the sea, especially the Red Sea region. It is used by the Bedouin Folklore artist consisting of five or six strings.
10 A kind of wind musical instrument 11 It is the name of single-string musical instrument 12 It is the name of stringed musical instrument
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Administrative Division of Sinai
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The Sinai Peninsula is divided administratively into:
1- North Sinai Governorate: Its capital is Arish city. The governorate is divided into six administrative centers; Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, Arish, Bir Al- Abd, Al-Hassana, and Nakhl. 2- South Sinai Governorate: Its capital is Al-Tur. The governorate is divided into nine cities: Abu Rudeis, Abu Zenimah, Ras Sidr, Al-Tour, Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba, and Saint Catherine. 1- North Sinai Governorate The capital: Arish National Day: North Sinai Governorate celebrates its National Day on April 25 of each year, on the occasion of the liberation of Sinai in 1982. Emblem: The current emblem of the governorate is the slogan of the Sinai Governorate before the issuance of Republican Decree No. 84 of 1979 regarding the division of the Sinai Peninsula into the North and South Sinai Governorates.
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The emblem consists of many logos; the cogwheel symbolizes the mineral wealth, the driller expresses oil discoveries, the fish refers to fishing wealth, the olive branch embodies peace and agricultural development. The Yellow color expresses the nature of North Sinai, which includes the coastal environment in the north and the desert environment in the south. Location: North Sinai Governorate is located in the northeast of the ARE between longitudes 32.34 to the East and latitudes 29-31 to the North. It is bordered to the North by the Mediterranean with a length of 220 km, to the South by South Sinai Governorate, and to the West by Port Said, Ismailia and Suez, and to the East by the occupied Palestine. Area: The area of the governorate is about 27000 and 564 km2, equivalent to about 2.7% of the area of the Republic. The population density is about 0.01 thousand people/km2. Population: The population is estimated at 470707 people until January 2020. Landforms: The geographical features in North Sinai are divided into two distinct types. The first is the coastal environment, which includes the northern plains that border the Mediterranean and are covered
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with wavy and flat sand dunes. The second type of the geographical features is the desert environment that prevails in the center of North Sinai. This area has highlands which are characterized by a group of high and separate mountains. This region incorporates a group of valleys such as Arish valley, which is the largest of all. Climate: North Sinai has a unique climate; it is characterized by the Mediterranean climate, and the temperature ranges between 10 °C in Winter to 24 °C in Summer. Regarding rainfall rates, they decrease in the South and West and increase when going Northwards. North Sinai Cities: Bir El-Abd Center The total area of Bir El- Abd is 3857 km2, and its total population is 91,876. The center includes the city of Bir al-Abd, 24 villages and 101 subordinates, and 8 districts. Bedouin tribes reside in Bir El- Abd are Al-Sawarka, Al-Dawagra, Al-Bayadiyah, Al-Akharsa, Al- Aqayla, Al-Malaaba, and residents from various Egyptian governorates. During the last three years, Bir al-Abd center welcomed people from Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, who settled there. In Bir al-Abed, there are places for gathering for the families of
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Bayadiyya tribe, in addition to other places to receive guests and hold their social events. Arish According to Al-Maqrizi, the reason for the name of Arish came after Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, who used to make a canopy there to milk his cattle.13 It is also said that it was called Arish because the brothers of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), peace be upon him, made a canopy, shading them from the sun, until Yusuf permits them to enter Egypt during the drought. The city is characterized by pure air and fresh water. According to a number of researchers, it is believed that it was called so because people were building canopies made of palms to live in. The writer Ashraf Al-Anani indicated in one of his books that the name came in reference to "Araishia", who are the urban residents of Arish, most of whom go back to the garrison of Arish Castle abolished by Muhammad Ali Pasha, so the soldiers and officers who came from Turkey and Bosnia settled there with their families; from these ancestors came most of residents of Arish.
13 Arish: is an Arabic word that means canopy or sunshade
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Arish city is located in the middle of the base of the Sinai triangle.
It is crossed by the watercourse of Arish valley, which used to pour its water into the sea at Arish when the seasonal rains fell on Central Sinai mountains in winter. It is bordered from the North by the Mediterranean Sea, from the West by Bir El-Abd, from the South by South Sinai Governorate. The city falls on the highway that connects Al Kantara City to Rafah City. The city is 762 km2 and is characterized by a semi-desert tropical weather; the temperature increases in Summer and gets warmer in Winter. The city is vulnerable to northwest winds bearing rains. It is famous for cultivation of date palms, so the emblem of the city contains the logo of the date palm surrounded by a circle symbolizing the sun, the sign of the purity of the sky and the brightness of the sun. The emblem also includes the logo of a fish holding an olive branch, which symbolizes peace which was attained, as well as the quality of olive production in the city. Arish Community It is divided into three main classes: Sons of Tribes They are from the Sinai Bedouins, which are the Arab tribes that migrated from the Arabian Peninsula and settled in the governorate.
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City dwellers They are the urban inhabitants and they are a mixture of many races and ethnicities. Expatriates: They are from various parts of ARE for the purpose of development and resettlement. The Most Important Natural Resources: Yellow sand - black sand - construction sand. Salient Landmarks: The most important landmarks are; Arish Sea Port, Arish International Airport, the Zoo, Museum of Environmental Heritage, Lahfen Roman Castle, Ruins of Arish Castle, and Tourist villages on An-Nakhil Beach. Other salient landmarks are; Steam Station in Masaeed, Beach Corniche and An-Nakhil Corniche, Mubarak Military Hospital, the urban model at the entrance to the city of Arish, Al-Ahram Foundation Cultural Center, Arish National Museum, and Arish Beach wave barriers. Rafah It is an agricultural city located at the Egyptian- Palestinian border. Among its most important crops are apples, dates, grapes,
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olives, leafy vegetables, green pepper and peaches. It is considered one of the major cities in North Sinai, and it is the last Egyptian city on its eastern borders. Sheikh Zuwaid: It is geographically located on the international coastal road between Arish and Rafah, about 334 km away from the Capital city of Cairo, and 12 km away from the Palestinian city of the Gaza Strip. It was named after Sheikh Zuweid, who was killed in 640 AD during the Islamic expansion in Egypt. Among its villages and suburbs; Al-Touma, Abu Tawila, Abu Zarei, Al-Kawthar, Yamit, and Al-Joura. Al-Hassana City: The city is one of the oldest settlements in central Sinai. It is 64 kilometers away from the city of Nakhl at the North, 87 kilometers away from the city of Arish at the South, and 170 kilometers away from the city of Suez at the
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Southwest. The city is considered the capital of the center of Hassana, and its old name was Bir Al-Hassana. Nakhl City: It is geographically located in the south central side of North Sinai Governorate. It is considered the administrative capital of Nakhl Center, and was in the past the capital of Sinai. Among its tourist landmarks are; the famous Metla Corridor, El-Tih Mountains, the ancient Carved Rock of the Mamluk Sultan Qansuh al-Ghawri, the Fountainheads of Arish Valley, the Old Hajj (Pilgrimage) Route, and the historic Nakhl Castle. 2- South Sinai Governorate It is located in the Southern half of the Sinai Peninsula, in the shape of a triangle whose northern base is at Taba’s Well on the Gulf of Aqaba to the East, its head overlooks the Gulf of Suez in the West, and its other two sides stretch along the Aqaba and Suez Gulfs until they meet in
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Ras Muhammad in the South. The total area of the governorate is
31,272 km2; i.e. 3.1% of Egypt’s total area. The inhabited area is 16,791 km2; at a rate of 53.7% of the total area of the governorate. It is characterized by its mountainous nature and has the most famous mountain in the world, which is Mount Saint Catherine. Capital: Al-Tur city. National Day: South Sinai Governorate celebrates its National Day on March 19, on the occasion of the anniversary of the raising of the Egyptian flag at Taba in 1989. Emblem The governorate emblem is covered mainly by the golden color, which symbolizes the sun and its golden rays that prevails the governorate's land throughout the year. The blue color symbolizes the water of the Red Sea, the Suez and Aqaba Gulfs, and the green color is represented by the olive branch, the symbol of peace. Climate South Sinai Governorate is characterized by a moderate climate in summer and warm climate in winter. The temperature ranges between 15 °C in January and 30 °C in August, except Saint Catherine where temperature ranges from 6 to 23 °C.
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Area: The total area of the governorate is 31,272 km2, equivalent to about 3.1% of the area of Egypt. Population The number of population reached about 108,543 people in January 2020. Administrative division: 1- Abu Rudeis It overlooks the Gulf of Suez. It is distinguished by its location between the mountain ranges. It shares borders with Abu Zenima City on the northern side, and with Tur Sinai City on the southern side. Its borders from the west intersects with the Gulf of Suez, and it also shares the eastern side with the City of Saint Catherine. Its area reaches more than 2,400 km².
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2- Abu Zenimah
Its area extends to 5000 km², and includes two villages; Grendel and Ramla, whose residents work in industry, quarries and mines. Gypsum and ferromanganese factories are built in it, and some of its people work in cultivation in the village of Grendel. 3- Nuweiba The city of Nuweiba directly overlooks the coasts of the Red Sea. It has a very important port, which is that of Nuweiba, which connects it with the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba. Administratively, there are two villages and housing communities in Nuweiba, which is one of the commercial agricultural and tourist areas in the country. Its area reaches more than 5097 km2.
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4- Dahab Dahab is widely known after Sharm El-Sheikh City in the South Sinai governorate. It is famous for diving, archaeological sites and nature reserves. It has received great attention from the Egyptian government; this is represented by establishing hotels and tourist villages. The city lies in the southeast of the Sinai Peninsula, overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba. Dahab is about 81 km to the north away from Sharm el-Sheikh resort, and 135 km from Eilat City. 5- Ras Sidr It overlooks the Red Sea’s Gulf of Suez, and administratively includes three main regions; Wadi Sidr, Sidr, and Abu Sewira. It has a 95-km sandy beach, and is approximately 200 km away from Cairo.
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6- Sharm El-Sheikh
It is considered the largest city in the governorate, as its area extends to 424 km2. It is characterized by a prominent tourist status due to the remarkable development that the tourism sector has witnessed recently. The city has a distinguished geographical location at the head of the Red Sea, and is characterized by solid infrastructure of facilities and services. 7- Saint Catherine It is located at the top of Mount Al-Tour at a 1586-m height approximately. It is 120 km away from Nuweiba City, and is considered a nature reserve. 8- Al-Tur It has several names; such as Mount Musa and Mount Horeb. The city has great historical and religious significance, and is 265-km away from the Martyr Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel. Additionally, the city has prominent tourist status in Egypt due to the presence of Coptic and Islamic monuments.
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9- Taba Taba City is located at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, and the city has a great civilizational and historical value. It overlooks four Arab countries; Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. It is the last populated Egyptian area on the Egyptian-Jordanian border.
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