Nabq Protected Area

What is the Nabq Protected Area?

Nabq is a large managed protected area of coast, wadis and mountains on the Gulf of Aqaba, beginning just north of Sharm el-Sheikh's Nabq Bay resort strip and running towards Dahab. It was declared in 1992 to protect the mangroves, coastal dunes and reefs, and the Bedouin communities who live and fish there.

Do not confuse it with Nabq Bay, the resort district of large hotels just south of the reserve. Inside the protected area there are no hotels, just tracks, a ranger post and long empty beaches. It makes a peaceful half-day contrast with the boat trips to Ras Mohammed.

The landscape changes quickly as you drive in: first gravel plains and acacia, then low dunes and arak thickets along the shore, then the green line of mangroves against turquoise shallows, with the granite mountains of the interior behind. On clear days the Saudi coast is visible across the Gulf of Aqaba.

The mangroves and wildlife

Nabq has some of the most extensive mangroves on the Sinai coast, grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) growing in shallow lagoons close to the northern limit of the species' range. Their roots act as a nursery for juvenile reef fish and shelter crabs and molluscs, while herons, egrets and ospreys hunt along the edges.

• Birds: reef herons, ospreys and, in spring and autumn, migrating storks and raptors. See our birdwatching guide.
• Dunes and wadis: stabilised sand dunes held together by arak (toothbrush) bushes, and the wide mouth of Wadi Kid.
• Mammals: rarely seen, but the mountains shelter Nubian ibex, foxes and hyraxes.
• Reefs: a fringing reef runs the length of the coast, best explored with a guide who knows the entry points.

The shipwreck on the reef

The rusting hull stranded on the reef edge just off Nabq's shore is the Maria Schroeder, a cargo ship that ran aground in the 1950s and has sat there ever since. It is one of the most photographed sights on 4WD tours, framed by turquoise shallows and the mountains of Saudi Arabia across the gulf.

Snorkellers can sometimes swim towards it in calm conditions with a guide, where the reef around the hull attracts fish. Do not climb on the wreck itself: it is unstable and sharp.

Bedouin life at Nabq

Bedouin families still live within the protected area, fishing, herding goats and hosting visitors for tea and simple meals. Many tours stop at a small settlement for sweet sage tea, bread baked on hot coals and a chance to see daily life. These visits can feel staged, so ask your guide which community you are visiting and whether it benefits directly; spending money on crafts or a meal there helps.

For background on the tribes of Sinai, their customs and hospitality, see our Bedouin culture guide.

How do you visit Nabq?

Most people come on a 4WD half-day tour from Sharm el-Sheikh, often combined with snorkelling and a Bedouin tea stop; boat trips from Sharm also stop off the coast.

• 4WD: about 30–45 minutes from Naama Bay to the entrance, then sandy tracks. Self-drive is not practical, and quad bikes are not ideal inside a protected area.
• Boat: some day boats moor off Nabq's reefs; you see the wreck from the sea rather than the mangroves.
• Camel or walking: short walks along the shore are possible with a local guide.

Go in the morning or late afternoon: midday in summer is very hot with little shade. Bring water, sun protection and reef shoes. Read our day trips from Sharm el-Sheikh guide to combine Nabq with other excursions.

Nabq or Ras Mohammed?

Choose Ras Mohammed for the famous reef walls and big fish, and Nabq for a quieter land-based outing with mangroves, dunes, Bedouin hospitality and a shipwreck in view.

If you have time for both, do Ras Mohammed early in your stay while you are keen for big water days, and keep Nabq for a gentler afternoon.

Fees and travel advice

A protected-area fee is charged per person and is usually included in tour prices; confirm when you book. Rangers ask visitors to stay on tracks, take all rubbish away and avoid the mangrove roots. Travel advice for parts of Sinai differs from the rest of Egypt, so check Smartraveller or SafeTravel before you go.