Post-revolution Dahab is relatively empty compared to the very active city it once was. With more then 60 percent of businesses, restaurants, cafes, and shops closed due to the lack of tourists, you'd think that the seaside city has fallen to its demise but that couldn't be farther from the truth.
Walking along the strip on the seaside while enjoying a much needed caffeine shot, locals and the few tourists were in smiles, greeting one another and sharing laughs. Perhaps the struggle of staying afloat along has drawn them together or perhaps, It is the contagious sense of belonging and becoming more aware of nature.
Coming from Cairo, a city that can be unbearably stifling and where people rarely ever acknowledge each other's existence, unless they're fighting, let alone smile at one another, Dahab has proven to be quite the opposite and is like a breath of fresh air. The abandoned city has become home to many different nationalities, not just Egyptians and Bedouins.
*I am from Milan and I always wanted to get away from the city so I moved to Sharm in 1998 and when it became yet another huge city, I moved to Dahab in 2008. I have my business, my home and a beautiful family to take care of," said Lorenzo Uberti Paci, owner of the Canyon Estate Hotel in Dahab. "Money is an issue, but all I ever wanted was a place like this to call home, and now I have it."
Others from Spain, France, Russia and other countries around the globe have also reallocated to Dahab.
Most Western travel advisories for Egypt exclude Sharm El Sheikh in Sinai. However, places like Taba, Dahab and Nuweiba remain on the "danger" list.
Rabea Al Araby, owner of Jasmine Restaurant and Pension, believes that more efforts need to be done to promote tourism in Dahab to Europeans.
"Instead of just focusing on one tourist attraction, Sharm El Sheikh, why not focus on the others too? Sinai's beauty is uniquely incredible and therefore, by using the land we Egyptians own, Sinai could be a major source of needed income to the country," Rabea said.
Before promoting Dahab, however, authorities must take care of the city and fix existing facilities such as water supply and electricity.
"Something as simple as fixing the roads and having access to clean water in Dahab would be a great boost to the morale of the locals," Rabae explained.
Despite all the missing necessities, residents in the city remain optimistic.
"There is no question that tourism is not as strong as it was or could be. That being said, Dahab tourists are all looking for the same thing: serenity. People don't come here to party, they come here to chill, relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the mountains and the Red Sea" said Mohammed, a Bedouin cab driver. "People can travel the world but they'll always want to go back to Dahab simply because there is no place like it."
Irish journalist Conor Sheils told StepFeed that"Dahab is paradise on earth. I've been coming here since 2013 and i keep coming back for the chilled vibe and friendly people."
Dahab is seen as a sanctuary to all people who just need to take a step back from the fast-paced lives they lead. With a bit of teamwork and collaboration between the Tourism Ministry and locals, Dahab will be a major tourist attraction and the small city will once again be revived.