A Quick Guide to Nuweiba

Facts, Tourism, History

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The Sinai Peninsula

Split from Africa by the Suez Canal, the Sinai Peninsula is part of the Asian Continent. To its West lies the Gulf of Suez, to its East the Gulf of Aquaba. With over 90% of its 61,000 km2 covered by towering mountains, the Sinai remains one of the most naturally fascinating landscapes on Earth.

Throughout its several thousand years of history, The Sinai has attracted explorers and adventurers. Dating back to over 3,500 years B.C. the Sinai was the land of trade with the Ancient Egyptians, and it was here that Moses is reported to have received the Ten Commandments on top of Mount Sinai, and from here he led the Jewish people to safety. This area is the original Christian ‘Holy Land’, and many areas within the Sinai are still revered as Biblical sites.

The Sinai got its name from early inhabitants who worshipped the trinity between the Moon (Sin), Sun (Shamash) and Venus (Ishtar). They named the Sinai after their Moon God “Sin”. Over twenty-million years ago Sinai was connected with Egypt and the Saudi Arabian Peninsula as part of the same land formation. Thermal currents in the earth’s mantle created huge cracks, which lifted and spread the land. Sinai is part of the Great Rift Valley, the great fracture in the earth’s crust, which begins in East Africa, continues through the Red Sea into the Gulf of Aquaba and through the Jordan Valley (Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee). Every year this rift widens about 5mm, moving the Saudi Arabian Peninsula northwards.

Geologically Sinai can be roughly divided into three areas. The Northern region consists of sand dunes and fossil beaches formed by the changing levels of the Mediterranean Sea during the glacial periods two million years ago. The landscape is flat and uniform, interrupted only by some vast sand and limestone hills. The scarcely inhabited Al Tih Plateau is the central geological area, with limestone dating from the Tertiary Period. The highlands extend towards the South until you reach the third area consisting of granite and basalt; volcanic rock. Both rocks are produced by volcanic activity on the bottom of the ocean from the Precambrium.

The History of the Sinai

Archeological investigations of bones and flint tools show evidence of the presence of human life in the desert as far as Two-hundred-thousand years ago. Archeologists also found strange prehistoric structures, the “Desert Kites”. These triangular configurations of stone walls were built with the tip pointing downhill, and are believe to have been used to trap Gazelles. Across the Sinai, roofed rooms with an opening to the west have been discovered, and are believed to be the Nawamis ancient burial chambers, dating back to the early Bronze Age. Some believe that this shows where nomads rested on their journeys across the Sinai, or show their main ceremonial areas. Almost five-thousand years ago, people began to settle in the area of St. Katherine, mining copper and turquoise, leading to trade with the Pharaohs during the First Dynasty. A bas-relief, discovered in Wadi Maghara, portraying Pharaoh Sekhemkhet (2600 BC), indicates the earliest known presence of Egyptian Pharaohs in Sinai.
Labor camps were set up near the site of the mines. Copper and turquoise were brought down an ancient track to the port of Markha near Abu Zneima, where they were loaded into ships and transported to Egypt. In the 12th Dynasty the magnificent temple dedicated to the Goddess Hathor, the Lady of Turquoise, Love and Joy, was built in Serabit Al Khadem (the Heights of the Servants). At some point of this period an extraordinary event took place. Laborers scribbled symbols on the walls translating the pictures of the hieroglyphic alphabet into consonantal sounds. These symbols evolved into the Proto-Sinaitic alphabet from which the Semitic languages derived. Many rocks have been found with graffiti from the Nabatean times, the 2nd and 3rd century AD, and with Roman and Byzantine inscriptions.

The Bible

The Sinai has long been considered by many to be the location of many places referred to in the bible. Some of the more well known are Elim (Wadi Garandel) with the sulfur springs of Hammam Faraon, the wilderness of Sin (Markha, the ancient port of Abu Zneima), Rephedim (Wadi Feiran, Pharan of the book of Exodus). Kadesh Barnea, today known as Ain Gedeirat, in the Northeast, is supposed to be Mount Horeb. The oldest Bedouin settlements are found in this area, known to them as Moses Valley.

The Hebrew people have lived in Egypt since the reign of Tuthmosis III. The exodus of the Hebrew people, known as Apirou, is believed to have taken place during the reign of Ramses II (1290–1224 BC). The reasons for the exodus are not fully known, as there is a lack of historical sources on the Hebrews (and other minorities) from this period. They are hardly mentioned in the recovered Egyptian papyri. It seems most likely that difficult economic circumstances, in the form of high taxes and compulsory labor, led people to search for a new life in the land of milk and honey. From the 3rd Century, hermits who sought refuge and seclusion in the high mountain range of the St. Catherine region developed the idea of Mount Sinai being the place where Moses had received the Ten Commandments. (Early Christian authorities recognised Gebel Serbal in Wadi Feiran as the Mount of the Ten Commandments.) By the Nineteenth century, Sinai became popular among researchers and adventurous explorers, who began to trace the exact sites of the exodus based on documentary evidence and geographic characteristics. According to many researchers, the crossing of the Red Sea could have taken place somewhere between Suez and the Bitter Lakes, with the tribes then traveling towards Ayun Mussa (Spring of Moses). Others favor the Northern route, with the Israelites traveling through ’Yam Saf, the Sea of Reeds, by journeying along the Mediterranean coast between Port Said and Al Arish, as here, the vast numbers of reeds fit the biblical description. The Tamarisk trees, which produce a gum known as manna, and Quails are plentiful in the North, whilst being sparse in the South. The names of places here are also similar to biblical ones: Arish [Alush], Kadeish Barnea [Kades], Libnah [Libni]. It is therefore possible that the exodus of the Hebrews did occur in the Sinai, but it is also possible that it did not; this only adds to the mystery and wonder of this beautiful land.

Bedouins - Nomadic Arabs

Bedouins are found all over the Arabian Peninsula; Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Libya, but their numbers are diminishing. They are known by their nomadic lifestyles, specific dialects, social structures and culture. It is now estimated that nomadic Bedouins constitute only 10% of the population of the Middle East, where they live pastoral lives, herding camels, sheep, goats and cattle. Few still live as their forefathers; in camel- or goat-hair tents (house of hair), raising livestock, hunting and raiding.

The Sinai Bedouins are split into roughly 10 tribes, and are currently undergoing rapid changes to their lives as a result of the increases in tourism. They have always acted as local guides, leading visitors to places of worship and interest, but have only recently begun to settle in towns close to areas with the greatest tourism, rather than live and travel through the Sinai desert. Many of these new settlers in the coastal towns however, long for the tranquility of the desert, and it is here that they return to for retreat from the demands of their modern lives.

Along with the change of lifestyle has come a change of diet. The desert did not offer much fertile land for farming, so the traditional diet consisted of fish, milk and dates. Now however, many families grow fruit and vegetables, and eat more chicken, lamb, goat and beef. With the less active lifestyle, increases in the use of cars, and the greater ownership of western comforts such as televisions, the health and life expectancy of the Bedouins has decreased.

To the Bedouin, the most remarkable and majestic of all animals is the Camel. They are seen as a gift from Allah, providing companionship, shelter and transportation across the harsh Sinai desert, and are often used as dowry for a bride, or as a payment for acts committed against another Bedouin. Owning Camels is a sign of wealth. Camel hair is used to make clothing, blankets and tents. Bedouins drink Camel milk and feast on Camel meat. Whilst many Bedouins now own 4-W/D jeeps instead of Camels, the camel has not lost its place in their society, and now offers a further source of income for breeding, racing and predominantly for providing Camel rides and treks with the increases in tourism.

The Bedouin tribal system forms the basis of their society. Bedouins live in family groups, which when combined, form a clan. A number of clans together form a tribe. All water and pastoral land is considered to be tribal property. All members of a clan show unconditional loyalty to one another, and to their family, clan and tribe. Many Bedouins trace their ancestry back to the times of the prophet Mohammed, and believe their country, their blood lines and their lifestyle to be the most noble of all. Within this system they all enjoy support, security and protection.

The Bedouin woman enjoys significant freedom. She has the freedom to choose a husband, and to choose to end a marriage; divorce is common among Bedouins and carries no social stigma. The Bedouins live in a patriarchic system, in which the man is the master. However, as male family members often travel and work for long periods away from the family, Bedouin women are the center of, and master over, their family’s lives. Women follow social and religious rules in managing their lives, but are also strongly protected by the cultural and religious systems within which they live. Bedouin law rules any actions taken against a woman to be worth two to four times the punishment than were the same act committed against a man.
The Bedouins follow a strict rule of Law; blood calls for blood. Every violation of the law, from an argument to murder, is discussed by the family and clan members, and finally the Court of Elders. They will discuss the matter for as long as it takes to reach a decision and make a final judgment on the parties involved. If a member of a clan commits murder inside the clan, nobody will defend him. In case of escape he becomes an outlaw, and is no longer protected by his fellow tribe members. A Bedouin can not survive for long in the desert without the assistance and protection of his tribe. If the murder is outside the clan, a vendetta is established, and any fellow clan member may have to pay for the crime with his own life. A blood feud may last for many years, or can be ended with the payment of blood money, or through forgiveness by one or both parties.

Bedouins are most well known by travelers and holidaymakers for their warm welcome and hospitality. With the increase in tourism however, things have changed. Before, a stranger would be offered tea, food and shelter for a few days without being asked for any form of payment, or any being expected. However, many tourists still paid large amounts for simple things, and slowly this came to be expected. Today, payment for a cup of tea is often expected, but this is not to say you will not often still be invited for tea or dinner with a Bedouin family as a welcome, with nothing asked in return.

Nuweiba A Bedouin Town

Nuweiba is located on the Eastern Coast of the Sinai Peninsula, 60 km South of Taba, 170 km North of Sharm el Sheikh and only 110 km from Saint Katherine’s. Nuweiba means, “bubbling springs” in Arabic, and it is one of the Sinai’s 5 oases, with a number of green, tree covered areas that add a stunning contrast to the normal desert scenery and the deep blue of the Red Sea. Nuweiba remains a small and original Bedouin area, ideally located close to some of the Sinai’s busier tourist areas.

The 7 km long stretched settlement developed from a barren isolated place with no infrastructure into a promising and attractive tourist destination. Nuweiba has only recently been discovered by tourist investors, establishing hotels along the coastline south and north of Nuweiba, connecting it with Taba in the north and Dahab in the south.

There are four main hotels within Nuweiba, the Domina Elaria, Swisscare, Nuweiba Village and the Hilton, which offer a range of accommodation styles and prices. All have their own large stretch of sandy beach and offer views of the Sinai Mountains, the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia.

There are also a number of small and simple beach camps with Bedouin restaurants and straw huts directly on the beach. This low-cost and tranquil accommodation makes Nuweiba popular with Egyptian, Israeli and other Arab travelers, as well as European backpackers. The beach camps still have a quite hippie-like atmosphere as you will find people sitting together, playing the guitar and singing, almost every night.

One of Nuweiba’s large roles is as one of Egypt’s most used ports. It is from here every day that goods move between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. During Ramadan, many Egyptians and Bedouins head to Nuweiba to make their important journey to Mecca. For tourists and foreign visitors, Nuweiba is also the easiest way to travel to Jordan, Petra, and the old cities of Saudi Arabia, on one of the twice daily ferries.

Nuweiba is also excellently positioned to visit some of Egypt’s other most famous attractions. Nuweiba is only 110 km from both St Katherine’s Monastery and Mount Sinai. In this area, Moses is said to have met his wife by the burning bush within the Monastery, and to have received the Ten Commandments from God atop Mount Sinai. For many, seeing these two famous landmarks is a highlight of their holiday in Egypt. In addition, Nuweiba is only a short journey from the beautiful Coloured Canyon and White Canyon, and offers a spectacularly peaceful and beautiful location for Bedouin dinners, desert safaris and camel riding.

Bedouin tea is one of the Sinai’s special drinks. A strong form of black tea is combined with herbs and sugar to offer a sweet and delicious refreshment. You will almost certainly have the opportunity to sample this Bedouin speciality at least once during your stay … and most people choose to take the raw ingredients home to continue to enjoy this unique drink once their holiday is over!

Nuweiba can be divided into three main sections

TarabeenThe Northern part of Nuweiba was traditionally the summer settlement for the Tarabeen tribe of Bedouins, who slowly settled more permanently over the last thirty years. The area starts at the ruins of an old Turkish fort in the North, which provided the Bedouins with fresh water for centuries, spreading South to the edges of Nuweiba City. Within this area, you find a shallow bay, and a number of areas with palm trees and groves, as well as a plantation. With the increase in tourism, a number of camps have grown along the coast, offering budget accommodation in simple straw huts. In this area you also find the promenade, a 3km beach walkway, with restaurants, bazaars and a lively yet relaxing atmosphere. In this area you can eat and drink in comfort, watch the sea, and let time pass by.

Nuweiba CityThe Town is built around the former Moshav Neviot, which was established during the Israeli occupation in 1971. It marks the tribal boundary between the Tarabeen tribe in the North and the Mozina tribe in the South. It is the administrative center of Nuweiba, with the post office (open from 09.00 to 14.00 Saturday to Thursday), the Telephone Communication Center, as well as a number of small bazaars, restaurants, and the Government Bakery (offering cheap and delicious pitta breads). The only bank in this side of town is located in the Nuweiba Village Hotel. The dunes are the extension and connection between Nuweiba City and Mozina. This area sees a long sandy beach with a number of small hotels and camps located on the beachfront. The Dunes are divided into "Duna" in the North, and "Small Duna" in the South. Most of the camps and hotels are in "Small Duna", while "Duna" remains more open, with a few beachside restaurants and small thatched huts.

El Mozina and the PortThe port, or Nuweiba Mina, is the industrial area. The port was built in 1985, and facilitated an increase in trade between Egypt and the surrounding Arab countries. Around this area Egyptians settled as work increased, and a road was built from the Egyptian mainland to Nuweiba. It was here that Nuweiba’s first small hotels were opened. In this area, you can find a number of banks and ATM’s, can purchase tickets for the twice daily ferries to Jordan, and enjoy cheap and delicious local food in one of the many cafes. The area around Nuweiba Port was the historic summer settlement for Bedouins from the Mozina tribe. As trade increased in this area, the Mozina Bedouins began to settle more permanently, starting small businesses and running supermarkets to cater to those moving through the port, and the Egyptians who moved to the area. There is now a large village with traditional Bedouin houses, a large Mosque, and where goats, sheep and camels graze freely on the streets.

Find Information on Nuweiba's History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuweibahttp://www.bedouin-experience.com/sinai/nuweiba/index.html

About the Biblical Red-Sea Crossing
http://www.wyattmuseum.com/red-sea-crossing.htm