Within two dozen years the small fishing village and a former navy port developed into one of the most important tourist destinations in Middle East.
Over 500 hotel complexes and residential areas consist the base of international conferences held here in such a great number that Sharm el Sheikh received the nickname The City of Peace.
Sharm el Sheikh
And the location of Sharm is perfect,several dozen miles from Mount Sinai along the shore of Red Sea full of coral reefs beloved by scuba divers and snorkelers. The city is planned in the organised way, due to nature preservation the buildings have limited height,there are plenty of small private houses surrounded by green of fresh planted trees and bushes.
The modern development brings the attention of foreign investors, and influential people buying the properties around. Hosni Mubarak, the present president of Egypt also has his residence in the area.
Although the strategic place overlooking the Tiran Island and the straight with oil tanks supplying Israel it was literally inhabited until actually overtaken by the Israelis, who introduced the plans of creating a modern resort city named Ofira, with the new airport and the facilities for new population of several thousand of settlers.
When Egypt regained the control over Sharm El Sheikh instead of destroying Israeli premises it decided the redesign and extend them to the luxury residential area.
It soon became the popular place first among the divers who have here over 1000 of fish species and several old shipwrecks stuck in the coral reefs.
The bright waters of Tiran Bay still are the main attraction of the area with some 40 diving schools providing over 200 boats for diving and snorkeling. The visitors can also join one of Seascape semi-submarine boats with glass bottom for easy observation of water world of Ras Mohammed the first underwater Natural Park in Egypt.
Sharm el Sheikh is divided into four distinct areas connected by Peace Prospect Road : Old Town, Habada, Naama Bay and Nabq.
[Photo courtesy of ecreyes]
