Hurghada

Short description: City on the Red Sea coast of Egypt

Hurghada

الغردقة

City

Hurghada

Location in Egypt

Coordinates:  [ ⚑ ] : 27°15′28″N 33°48′42″E﻿ / ﻿27.25778°N 33.81167°E﻿ / 27.25778; 33.81167
Country| Egypt
Governorate| Red Sea
Founded| 1905
Area

[1]

• Total| 258 km2 (100 sq mi)
Elevation

[1]

| 11 m (36 ft)
Population

(2023)[1]

• Total| 499,500
• Density| 1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+2 (EET)
Area code(s)| (+20) 65

Hurghada (/hərˈɡædə, -ˈɡɑː-/; Arabic: الغردقة Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [el ɣæɾˈdæʔæ]) is a coastal city that serves as the largest city and capital of the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. Hurghada has grown from a small fishing village to one of the largest resort destinations along the Red Sea coast, stretching close to 40 km.

## Contents

* 1 Etymology
* 2 Overview
* 3 History
* 4 Tourism
* 5 Demographics
* 6 Climate
* 7 Resorts near Hurghada
* 7.1 Sahl Hasheesh
* 7.2 El Qoseir
* 7.3 Makadi Bay
* 7.4 Sharm El Naga
* 7.5 Soma Bay
* 7.6 El Gouna
* 7.7 El Mahmya
* 8 Education
* 9 Gallery
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

## Etymology

The city's name is derived from the Arabic name of the Nitraria plant (Arabic: غردق‎). The English Hurghada comes from gharqad (Arabic: غرقد‎), a variant of the same name.[2] The tree is mentioned in a hadith, where it's called the "tree of the Jews".[3]

## Overview

Hurghada Marina in 2009.

Hurghada was founded in the early 20th century. For many decades it was a small fishing village, but it has grown into a major Red Sea resort as a result of Egyptian and foreign investment that began in the 1980s. Holiday resorts and hotels provide facilities for windsurfing, kitesurfing, yachting, scuba diving and snorkeling. The city is known for its watersports, nightlife and warm weather. Daytime temperatures are around 35 °C (95 °F) most of the year, and during July and August temperatures can reach over 46 °C (115 °F).[citation needed] Hurghada is a popular holiday destination for Europeans, especially during the winter, and some spend Christmas and New Year there. Tourist numbers from Russia dropped significantly[citation needed] after the Metrojet Flight 9268 plane crash in November 2015.

Hurghada extends for about 36 kilometres (22 mi) along the coast, but does not reach far into the surrounding desert. The resort is a destination for Egyptian tourists from Cairo, the Delta and Upper Egypt, as well as package holiday tourists from Europe. Hurghada has a population of 499,850 and is divided into:

* El Ahia and El Helal – The Northern part
* El Dahar (Downtown) – the old town
* Sakala – the city center
* El Kawsar – the modern southern part
* El Mamsha (Village Road) – a south pedestrianised street with a length of over 4 km (2.5 mi)• Magawish - The Southern part

Many of Hurghada's newer hotels, restaurants, and shops are located along El Mamsha. Most of the largest hotel resorts are located in the area between Mamsha and Sahl Hasheesh on El Mamsha. Beyond Sahl Hasheesh there are the hotels of Makadi Bay. Dahar is the oldest part of the town, where the traditional bazaar, post office and long-distance bus stations (Go Bus and Upper Egypt Bus) are situated. The busiest area is Sakala, the city center on Sheraton Road lined with hotels, shops and restaurants.[4][better source needed]

The city is served by the Hurghada International Airport with scheduled passenger traffic connecting to Cairo and directly to several cities in Europe. A new terminal was opened in 2015 to accommodate increasing traffic.[citation needed]

## History

An aerial view of the city

The Egyptian Red Sea coast has been inhabited since antiquity, with the area of Hurghada being occupied since the 4th century, when the ancient settlement of Abu Sha’ar (Arabic: ابو شعر), located 20 km north of the modern city, was established. Originally founded as a Roman military fort for Ala Nova Maximiana unit between 309-311, it was transformed into a Christian community around 400. The Christians repurposed the fort into a church, leaving behind inscriptions, graffiti, and artifacts such as a 5th-century papyrus and a tapestry with a cross. The settlement declined after either the Sasanian or Arab conquest of Egypt.[5]

The modern city Hurghada was established in 1905 as a fishing village. Oil was discovered in the area in 1913, and in 1921 British oil companies began its production and export. During the reign of King Farouk a recreational center was built in the city, but after President Nasser's nationalization of Egypt's industries it was reallocated to the Egyptian Armed Forces.[citation needed]

During the War of Attrition between Israel and Egypt (1967–70), Shadwan Island in the Red Sea to the east of the city was fortified by Egyptian troops and used as a radar post. On 22 January 1970 the island was the site of Operation Rhodes, a helicopter assault by Israeli troops who occupied it for 36 hours.[citation needed]

During the October War of 1973, Hurghada harbor was the target of four Israeli operations [he].[citation needed]

In September 1994, drive-by shooters killed two Egyptians and a German tourist; another German man was wounded in the attack and died of his injuries after returning to Germany.[6]

In 2016, a terrorist attack in Hurghada, inspired by the jihadist group Islamic State, wounded three tourists.[7] In another terrorist attack in Hurghada in 2017, a man declared that he wanted to kill only non-Egyptians, and stabbed seven female tourists. Two German women and one Czech woman were killed in the attack, which took place at two separate resort hotels.[8][9]

## Tourism

Hurghada's major industry is foreign and domestic tourism thanks to its year-round hot and dry climate and long beaches. Its waters are clear and calm for most of the year, making Hurghada a popular destination for underwater diving and snorkelling. Al Mina Mosque with two 40-metre-high minarets is the largest mosque in the Red Sea Governorate.[10] Hurghada Museum is the first antiquities museum in the Red Sea Governorate, containing 2000 artifacts that tell the history of Egypt.[11] Hurghada Grand Aquarium opened in 2015, it is the largest aquarium in Egypt and the second largest in Africa (after uShaka Marine World).[12]

There are diving sites around Giftun Islands, Abu Ramada Island and Fanadir where tourists can see shipwrecks such as the El Mina or the Rosalie Moller.[13][14][15][16] Beyond the town the coast road passes through other holiday resorts and villages.

## Demographics

Russian dumplings pelmeni on sale in Hurghada (2008)

In June 2015 MK in Egypt publisher Yulia Shevel stated that there were about 20,000 Russians in Hurghada, giving it Egypt's largest Russian population, though only about 3,000 were officially documented.[17] Russian women staying in Hurghada often marry Egyptian men through an Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (non-shariah) process.[18] Hurghada has 4 schools for Russian children: Constellation (Созвездие), Our Traditions (Наши Традиции), Dina (Дина) and The World of Knowledge (Мир знаний) (the Russian School Hurghada), as well as the newsletter MK in Egypt. Much of the signage in the city, (As of 2015), is in Russian.[citation needed] In 2017, a Russian Consulate opened in Hurghada.[19]

## Climate

Hurghada has a subtropical-desert climate (Köppen climate classification: BWh), with mild-warm winters and hot to very hot summers. Temperatures in the period December–January–February are warm, but in the evenings temperature may drop from an average 20 Celsius degrees to 10. November, March and April are comfortably warm. May and October are hot and the period from June to September is very hot. The average annual temperature of the sea is 24 °C (75 °F), ranging from 21 °C (70 °F) in February and March to 28 °C (82 °F) in August.

Script error: No such module "weather box".

Along the Red Sea coast, Hurghada has cooler temperatures in summer.

Script error: No such module "weather box".

Hurghada mean sea temperature[23] Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec

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22 °C (72 °F)  | 21 °C (70 °F)  | 21 °C (70 °F)  | 22 °C (72 °F)  | 24 °C (75 °F)  | 26 °C (79 °F)  | 27 °C (81 °F)  | 28 °C (82 °F)  | 27 °C (81 °F)  | 26 °C (79 °F)  | 25 °C (77 °F)  | 23 °C (73 °F)

## Resorts near Hurghada

Sahl Hasheesh

El Qoseir

Anemone and clownfish at Sharm El Naga beach

Soma Bay

El Gouna

### Sahl Hasheesh

Sahl Hasheesh is a newly developed resort located 18 kilometres (11 mi) south of Hurghada on the Red Sea.[24] It is home to diverse marine life and clear underwater walls, as well as the wreckage of the cargo ship Yolanda, that sunk in 1980.

### El Qoseir

El Qoseir is one of the Egyptian gateways, and one of the oldest cities on the western coast of the Red Sea. In the past it was known by various names, such as Thagho in the pharonic period, Leucos Limen (white port in Greek) in the Hellenistic and Ptolemaic period, and Portus Albus in the Roman period. In the Islamic period it was given the name El Qoseir, which means "a small palace or fortress".

Located between Hurghada and Marsa Alam, El Qoseir used to be an important port. Many people traveled from there to the Land of Punt to buy ivory, leather and incense. During the Ottoman and the Islamic periods, Egyptians and Muslims from North Africa traveled from El Qoseir as pilgrims to Mecca. It was also the only port importing coffee from Yemen. During the French occupation of Egypt, El Qoseir was the arrival point for Arabs and Muslims from Hejaz coming to fight beside the Mamluk against the French army. The most important sites in El Qoseir are the fort and the water reservoir. The water reservoir was El Qoseir's only source of drinking water 100 years ago.

El Qoseir El Adima, the city's historic area, was once a Roman port and hundreds of amphora and old pottery artefacts have been found there. There are several 300-year-old buildings in the area, including an Ottoman fort and a number of historic mosques: El Farran, El Qenawi and El Senousi. The police station is also located at a historic site. The area contains bazaars, cafes, coffee shops and restaurants selling sea food.

### Makadi Bay

A tourist resort located 30 km south of Hurghada dedicated only to hotels, shops, and clubs. There are no settlements with locals. The place features good sandy beach.

### Sharm El Naga

A village, around 40 km (25 mi) south of Hurghada. Its beach contains a beautiful reef cliff.

### Soma Bay

Soma Bay A tourist resort situated 45 km (28 mi) south of Hurghada, with various hotels including Palm Royale Soma Bay, La Residence des Cascades, Robinson Club, Sheraton (Kempinski – opening August 2008) & Caribbean World Resort Soma Bay (opened December 7).

### El Gouna

A privately owned luxury hotel town, about 25 km north of Hurghada. Quiet and clean, the town consists of several islands separated by channels and connected by bridges. Besides 14 hotels and 3 marinas, there are also 2,200 private villas and apartments, while many more are under construction. It is promoted by some as Egypt's Venice. It is built on 10 km of beachfront and has unique and diverse architecture.

El Gouna provides diving and watersports centers, horse stables, go-karting, shopping arcades, bazaars, a wide selection of restaurants and bars, night clubs, an internet cafe, four bank branches, many automated teller machines (ATMs), two pharmacies, the El Gouna international school, El Gouna national school, a nursery, a private hospital, three marinas, a library, an airport, one of several casinos on the Red Sea coast, a private radio station, a post office, a museum, real estate offices and an 18-hole golf course designed by Gene Bates with a unique aqua driving range.

### El Mahmya

A tourist beachfront camp on the protected Giftun island, 45 minutes by boat from Hurghada.[25]

## Education

Universities include South Valley University (Hurghada Branch) [26]

International schools include:

* German School Hurghada
* Russian School Hurghada
* French School of Hurghada

## Gallery

* Al Mina Mosque

* A street in Hurghada

* Mahmya Beach

* Hurghada Museum

* Hurghada Grand Aquarium

* Dive site near Abu Ramada Island

## See also

* Marsa Alam
* Red Sea Riviera
* Hurghada International Airport
* List of cities and towns in Egypt

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Egypt: Governorates, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". https://citypopulation.de/en/egypt/cities/?cityid=10341.
2. ↑ "History Of Hurghada | Get To Know How The Story Began !" (in en). https://travel2egypt.org/egypt-travel-guide/hurghada/introducing-hurghada/history/.
3. ↑ "Sahih Muslim 2922 - The Book of Tribulations and Portents of the Last Hour - كتاب الفتن وأشراط الساعة - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". https://sunnah.com/muslim:2922.
4. ↑ "The main areas in Hurghada". 7 June 2019. https://www.lifebeyondex.com/post/the-city-of-hurghada/.
5. ↑ Jørgensen, Lise Bender. "Textiles from a Late Roman/Byzantine ecclesiastical centre at Abu Sha’ar, Egypt". Zea Books. https://www.academia.edu/47422726/Textiles_from_a_Late_Roman_Byzantine_ecclesiastical_centre_at_Abu_Sha_ar_Egypt.
6. ↑ Elkoussy, Bahaa (28 September 1994). "German, Egyptians killed by militants". UPI. http://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/09/28/German-Egyptians-killed-by-militants/8047780724800/.
7. ↑ Sims, Alexandra (8 January 2016). "Egypt hotel attack: Three tourists wounded by assailants in Hurghada resort". The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/egypt-hotel-shooting-two-tourists-wounded-after-attack-in-hurghada-resort-a6803176.html.
8. ↑ Sanchez, Raf; Samaan, Magdy (16 July 2017). "Two tourists killed and four wounded in Egypt beach resort stabbing". The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/14/tourists-wounded-egypt-beach-resort-stabbing-police/.
9. ↑ "Two tourists stabbed to death in beach attack at Egyptian resort". The Guardian. 14 July 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/14/tourists-stabbed-to-death-in-attack-at-egyptian-resort.
10. ↑ "Al Mina Mosque, Hurghada, Egypt". https://www.holidify.com/places/hurghada/al-mina-mosque-sightseeing-1267693.html.
11. ↑ "Hurghada Museum" (in en). https://egymonuments.gov.eg/museums/hurghada-museum/.
12. ↑ "Grand Aquarium - Hurghada" (in en). https://www.tripxoxo.com/catalog/product/view/_ignore_category/1/id/400782/s/grand-aquarium-ticket-hurghada/.
13. ↑ "Dive sites Hurghada". http://egypt.greatestdivesites.com/hurghada.
14. ↑ The Rough Guide to Egypt Daniel Jacobs, Dan Richardson, Shafik Meghji - 2010 - Page 576 1848365012 "From Ed-Dahar, two main roads run 2–4km south to Sigala, which contains the modern port of Hurghada and a mass of restaurants and hotels, squeezed in wherever the terrain allows. Beyond Sigala is nothing but desert and an endless array of coastal holiday villages..."
15. ↑ Lonely Planet Middle East - Anthony Ham - 2009 Page 185 1742203590 "Activities There's little to do in Hurghada itself other than sit on a beach and dream of more secluded places. The public beach in Sigala is less than appealing, though many resorts offer preferable sun-and-sand options"
16. ↑ "Scuba diving in Hurghada". https://www.diveglobal.com/diving/hurghada/.
17. ↑ Abdallah, Buruddeen M. "Hurghada: 'Russian' capital of Egypt" (Archive). Daily Trust. June 6, 2015. Retrieved on November 18, 2015.
18. ↑ Walby, Joanne (2010). "Extended Holiday in Hurghada: Russian Migrant Women and 'Urfi Marriage". Surfacing 3 (1): 39–70. http://schools.aucegypt.edu/GAPP/IGWS/GradCent/Documents/Walby.Extended Holiday.(3) final.pdf. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
19. ↑ "Russia to open consulate in Hurghada to boost tourism". 2015-02-14. http://www.thecairopost.com/news/137388/inside_egypt/russia-to-open-consulate-in-hurghada-to-boost-tourism.
20. ↑ "Hurghada Airport Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Egypt/CSV/HurghadaAP_62463.csv.
21. ↑ "Station Hurguada" (in fr). Meteo Climat. http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/station-2113.php.
22. ↑ "Hurguada (Hurghada) Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-I/UB/62462.TXT.
23. ↑ "Hurghada Climate and Weather Averages, Egypt". Weather2Travel. http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/egypt/hurghada.php.
24. ↑ "Famous Cities: Sahl Hasheesh". Government of Egypt. http://www.sis.gov.eg/section/415/456?lang=en-us.
25. ↑ "Giftun island Hurghada, Egypt". http://www.elagazat.com/ar/city/hurghada-trips.
26. ↑ "Faculty of Education in Hurghada – South Valley University" (in en-US). https://www.svu.edu.eg/faculties/hu-edu/en/home-page-english/.

## External links

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurghada.

|

* Egyptra Travel Guide from Egypt
* Hurghada travel guide from Wikivoyage
* RedSeaPages - Pulse of the Red Sea

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* From a page move: This is a redirect from a page that has been moved (renamed). This page was kept as a redirect to avoid breaking links, both internal and external, that may have been made to the old page name.

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